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NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



Oct. 



THE SEASON AND THE CROPS. 



The summer which has just ended has been a 

 moist one in all this region. No long and delug- 

 ing rains have occurred, but showers have been so 

 frequent that we had no dusty roads until about 

 the 10th of September. Rain fell on the 2d and 

 again on the 13th and 14th of this month ; be- 

 tween those periods the sun was exceedingly hot 

 for several days, which were followed by quite 

 v/arm nights. It has not, therefore, been a de- 

 cided Indian Corn season. On light, warm soils, 

 however, that were highly manured, there will be 

 a fine crop — while on the moist, heavy soils, it 

 will be only a middling crop, though well manur- 

 ed and tended. At least, such is the case as far 

 as our observation has extended. 



Oats were excellent, and will bring an unusual 

 price, in consequence of the great demand for 

 them for the army horses. 



Wheat promised well until the heads were form- 

 ed, when it was attacked by a small insect, prob- 

 ably the Thrips, and most of it was ruined. 



Barley proved a good crop, where it was not 

 winter killed. We believe it a profitable crop, and 

 that it should be more extensively cultivated. 



The Rye crop was fair — on good land heavy. 



Beans are excellent, and are in demand at high 

 prices. 



The Potato crop promises well ; little is said of 

 the rot, though it is occasionally seen. We hope 

 that scourge has passed away. Potatoes are low 

 in the markets, compared with the prices that have 

 ruled for several years, previous to last year. 



Apples and Pears are abundant, and unusually 

 sound and fair. Porters are selling for 75c. to 

 $1,25 per barrel. Bartlett pears very low, say 

 from 50c. a bushel, up, according to quality. 



There are very few Peaches of New England 

 growth, but plenty from the Middle States, such 

 as they are — all plucked before they are ripe, and 

 of course, without the delicious peach flavor, which 

 is their prime quality. 



Plums, in variety, are plenty. 



Grapes are abundant, and will be good if they 

 get ripe. 



The Cranberry crop will be light — not one bushel 

 where there were ten last year. 



Generally with farmers, the season has not been 

 favorable for vines, pionpkins, cucumbers and 

 squashes, but those who make it a specialty to 

 raise them have succeeded, and there will be a 

 plentiful supply of the two last. 



The first Hay crop was good, and the second 

 also, on new, rich land. 



What Buckwheat fields we have seen did not 

 promise well ; this crop, however, is not a leading 

 one hereabouts. 



On the whole, there is abundant reason for our 

 most grateful acknowledgments to Him who con- 



trols the seasons and gives us the increase of the 

 fields. The farmer may find for a time that his 

 products will command but a moderate price, 

 while the articles that he is obliged to purchase 

 will be high. But as he cannot control the great 

 events which induce this state of things, he must 

 economize a little, call in to his aid an unusual 

 amount of patience and philosophy, and press on 

 as ever in his line of duty, and all will be welL 



RAIJSr ON THE BOOF. 



When the humid shadows gather 



Over all the starry spheres, 

 And the melancholy darkness 



Gently weeps in rainy tears j 

 'Tis a joy to press the pillow 



Of a cottage chamber's bed, 

 And listen to the patter 



Of the soft rain overhead. 



Every tinkle on the shingles 



Has an echo in the heart, 

 And a thousand dreamy fairies 



Into busy being start ; 

 And a thousand recollections, 



Weave their bright hues into woo 

 As I listen to the patter 



Of the soft rain on the roof. 



There in fancy comes my mother, 



As she used in days agone ; 

 To survey the infant sleepers. 



Ere she leaves them till the dawn. 

 I can see her bending o'er me, 



As I listen to the strain 

 Which is played upon the shingles 



By the patter of the rain. 



Then my little seraph sister, 



With her wings and waving hair, 

 And her bright-eyed cherub brother, 



A serene, angelic pair, 

 Glide around my wakeful pillow 



With their praise or mild reproof. 

 As 1 listen to the murmurs 



Of the rain upon the roof. 



Then another comes to thrill me, 



Witii her eyes delicious blue ; 

 I forget as gazing on her 



That her heart was all untrue ; 

 I remembered that I loved her 



As I ne'er can love again, 

 And my heart's quick pulses vibrate 



To the patter of the raiu. 



There is naught in art's bravuras 



That can work with such a spell, 

 In the spirit's pure, deep fountains, 



When the holy passions swell, 

 As that melody of nature. 



That subdued- subduing strain, 

 Which is played upon the shingles 



By the patter of the rain. 



Exchanse. 



Legislation on the Canada Thistle. — At 

 the last session of the Pennsylvania Legislature, a 

 law was passed to prevent the s])read of the Cana- 

 da thistle. "Hereafter, any individual or corpo- 

 ration in that State, allowing the Canada tliistle to 

 ripen on his or on their premises, shall be liable to 

 a fine often dollars, upon each complaint that is 

 properly established ; and any one who may fear 

 the spread of the Canada thistle upon his premises 



