504 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



Nov. 



tion is doubtful. The seed from that cut the last 

 of August was better, but the seed from that har- 

 vested the 9th of September was full grown and 

 perfect. Thus we see for fodder the grass was 

 growing from the l(3th May to the 20th August, 

 three months and four days; and for seed from 

 three and a half months to three months and 

 twenty-four days. We saved merely seed enough 

 for our own land. I have found the statements of 

 Mr. Richards, and some other of your correspon- 

 dents, in regard to the quality of the fodder, to 

 concur with my own limited observations. We 

 have never had so universal a favorite for fodder 

 in our barn with horses and cattle as the Hungari- 

 an grass, green or dry ; they seem to prefer it to 

 any other kind of hay. I am of the mind of your 

 correspondent who said, "I never will sow any 

 more oats for fodder." I have harvested as good 

 English hay as grows anywhere, if not so much to 

 the acre, but all our graminivorous animals give 

 their votes for the Hungarian grass. The culti- 

 vation of the Hungarian grass being comparative- 

 ly a new thing among us, I give out the few prac- 

 tical results of my limited experience in a report 

 which may be instrumental in distributing a few 

 sparks of light among farmers less experienced 

 than myself. The introduction of Hungarian grass 

 will make a very valuable addition to the varieties 

 of fodder now in use for stock, it is a kind of grass 

 which will be of first importance to farmers who 

 occupy the sandy plains throughout the country ; 

 great crops of it can be raised on light and warm 

 soil where it would be difficult to obtain moderate 

 crops of other kinds of grasses. 



Silas Brown. 

 North Wilmington, Sept., 1862. 



For the New England Farmer. 

 SUPERIOR KIUDS OF APPLES. 



There are, doubtless, many first-rate varieties 

 of the apple which have originated in this region 

 that have never been propagated by budding or 

 grafting, and are scarcely known beyond the farm 

 where they sprung up. These should be submit- 

 ted to fruit committees, and others, who are well 

 qualified to judge of their merits, and such as are 

 found to be first-rate in all respects should be add- 

 ed to the list for general cultivation. There are 

 many second and third class kinds, now grown to 

 some extent, which might be rejected with propri- 

 ety, and their places supplied with the best of 

 these varieties. Some of the best old kinds some- 

 times change and degenerate after cultivating for 

 a long series of years, and we must obtain some- 

 thing among the new, equal, if not superior, to fill 

 their places. Exhibitions of fruit at cattle and 

 horticultural shows afibrd a good o])portunity for 

 bringing these new kinds into public notice. 

 Within a few years, I have sent several varieties 

 to an eminent pomologist, wdio expressed a very 

 ftivorable opinion of them. O. V. HiLLS. 



Leominster, Sept., 1862, 



To ONE GALLON of soft water add a pint of 

 sugar or sorghum molasses, stir all well, and then 

 add nearly a gallon of fresh ripe tomatoes. Set 

 the vessel aside, and in a few days you will have 

 the sourest pickles you ever tasted, and the be^t 

 VI nesrar , — Kxchnn ae. 



AQRICTJIiTTTRAL EXHIBITIONS. 



MIDDLESEX SOUTH AGRICULTUBAL SOCIETY FAIR. 



The annual exhibition of the Middlesex South 

 Agricultural Society was held on the Fair Grounds 

 at Framingham, and was one of the largest and 

 finest that has occurred for many years. 



The display of fruit was uncommonly large and 

 fine, comprising 729 diff"erent parcels. The chief 

 contributors were George W. Goodenough, of 

 Southboro', 40 varieties of apples and 15 of pears; 

 W. G. Lewis, 26 varieties of pears, 17 of apples ; 

 H. G. White, 15 of each ; Liberty Chadwick, 20 

 of apples ; Oliver Bennet, 12 varieties of hot- 

 house grapes and 10 of native ; James W. Clark, 

 35 varieties of grapes. R. A. French exhibited a 

 large plate of apples of the Gloria Mundi variety, 

 weighing from 8 to 20| ounces each ; and N. F. 

 Clark, of Sherborn, a fine basket of assorted fruit. 



The principal exhibitors of vegetables were H. 

 G. AVhite, 39 varieties ; W. G. Lewis, 40 do. ; 

 Liberty Chadwick, 95 ; C. J. Powers, 34 ; Isaac 

 Osgood, Hopkinton, 115. Mr. Lewis exhibited 

 some German sweet tui'nips, raised from seed ob- 

 tained at the Patent Office three years ago. They 

 averaged 14^ pounds each when about half-grown. 

 Thirty-seven tons to the acre have been harvest- 

 ed. He also exhibited a new and remarkable va- 

 riety of yellow corn, that ripens before the frost, 

 however early it may come. Mr. White exhibit- 

 ed nine new varieties of seedling potatoes, the 

 only ones considei-ed worth retaining of 1700 va- 

 rieties started by Goodrich, of New York. The 

 displays of flowers, bread, preserved fruits, &c., 

 were very fine. 



The ladies proved themselves superior in needle 

 practice, and their display of crotchet work, quilts, 

 knitting, plain and fancy scM'ing, &c., was very 

 creditable. 



The stock entries were numerous and excellent, 

 numbering from 5 to 20 each of bulls, fat cattle, 

 cows, heifers, yearling colts, boars, sheep, calves, 

 &c., &c. H. G. White's stock of short-horns are 

 extensively known, and were recently the subject 

 of an elaborate article in the Country Gentlemnn. 

 H. H. Peters and W. G. Lewis exhibited several 

 Aryshires, William Buckminster, his celebrated 

 Devons, and F. A. Billings, his Alderneys. Of 

 swine, Mr. AVhite exhibited specimens of the 

 Chester county breed, and sheep of the Cotswold 

 variety. There were several Morgan and Mes- 

 senger colts, and the usual variety of fowls. 



BRISTOL COUNTY CENTRAL AGRICULTURAL SO- 

 CIETY CATTLE SHOW AND EAlR. 



The annual exhibition of thio new Society was 

 held on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. The 

 weather was delightful, the attendance large, and 

 the exhibition a great success. 



I'he subjects of special interest on the first day 



