1863. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



177 



seeds in drills, as directed for the hot-bed. In 

 May, when the plants are three or four inches high, 

 ti'ansplant to where they are to remain. 



In gardens where tomatoes have been cultivated, 

 young plants often spring up abundantly from the 

 seeds of the decayed fruit of the preceding sea- 

 son. These, if transplanted, will succeed as well, 

 and frequently produce fruit as early, as plants 

 from the hot-bed or nursery-bed. 



Sufficient plants for the garden of a small fam- 

 ily may be started with little trouble by sowing a 

 few seeds in a garden-pan or large flower-pot, and 

 placing it in a sunny window of the sitting-room 

 or kitchen. If the seed is sown in this manner 

 about the middle or 20t;h of March, the plants will 

 be of good size for setting by the time the weather 

 will be suitable for their removal. 



"As the fruit ripens, it must be well exposed to 

 the sun. There will be nothing gained by allow- 

 ing a great many fruit to ripen." 



A convenient, simple and economical support 

 for the plants may be made from three narrow 

 hoops, — one twelve, another fifteen, and the third 

 eighteen or twenty inches in diameter, — and at- 

 taching them a foot from each other to three stakes 

 about four feet in length ; placin<? the lower hoop 

 so that it may be about ten inches from the sur- 

 face of the ground after the stakes are driven. 

 The accompanying figure illustrates this method 

 of training. It secures abundance of light, free 

 access of air, and, in skilful hands, may be made 

 quite ornamental. 



Or a trellis may be cheaply formed by setting 

 common stakes, four feet in length, four feet 

 apart, on a line with the plants, and nailing laths, 

 or narrow strips of deal, from stake to stake, nine 

 inches apart on the stakes ; afterwards attaching 

 the plants by means of bass, or other soft, fibrous 

 material, to the trellis, in the manner of grape 

 vines or other climbing plants. 



Buckwheat for Orchards. — D. C. Scofield, 

 of Elgin, 111., recommends, in the Praine Farmer, 

 to sow buckwheat in orchards every year, by the 

 use of the cultivator, without plowing. 



For the Sexc England Farmer. 

 PUT IN THE WHEAT. 



Mr. Editor : — Your readers and subscribers 

 should thank you most heartilv for your leader on 

 "Wheat," in last Saturday's Fanner. The practi- 

 cal utility of your argument must meet their ap- 

 probation and" bring conviction to their minds. 



Differing somewhat from your statement of put- 

 ting in "one acre" this spring, I would suggest 

 three acres, if it were possible. Thinking your 

 heart is so near the farmers', you will allow me to 

 spriiikle in a few practical suggestions, such as to 

 advise the sowing of warm, early lands ; to ma- 

 nure well and plough it in, (not" harrow in ;) to 

 soak the seed in salt pickle twelve hours, then 

 rake it in wood ashes before harrowing it in. 

 This application of salt pickle and ashes is highly 

 fertilizing. The great point to gain is to force 

 the crop to early maturity. We all know rust and 

 blight come with dog days. Try and get ahead 

 of them. 



With two or three acres of wheat this spring 

 and the same quantity in winter wheat, your larg- 

 est farmers will be saved the expense of buying 

 barrels of Western flour. The double advantage 

 of this crop has no parallel ;!i the other small 

 grains. You will be sure of the spring or fall 

 crop, and perhaps both. 



The straw, in the vicinity of paper mills and in 

 cities, will pay a handsome profit on the cultiva- 

 tion. In such localities, the grain is a clear gain. 



The roots will soon go down to the manure if 

 it is ploughed in. H Poor. 



2sew Y'wk, April 17, 1863. 



Fur the Netp England Farmer. 

 FARMERS' FAIRS. 



Mr. Editor : — Some time since, I noticed in 

 the Farmer, an article respecting State and county 

 shows, by a correspondent of South Acton, who 

 thinks the farmers derive but little, if any bene- 

 fit, from such gatherings, as they are generally 

 conducted at the present day. 



Perhaps this may be true so far as some of the 

 older societies are concerned, which have been in 

 operation for nearly half a century, and especially 

 if they have pursued the same course or plan 

 from year to year, until their proceedings have 

 become, as it were, stale and stereotyped. But 

 it seems to me the remark will not ajjply to socie- 

 ties which have been formed more recently, and 

 have not yet accomplished the various objects for 

 which all such associations are designed. 



I fully agree with the views expressed in rela- 

 tion to "horse-racing," in connection with cattle 

 shows. Though probably introduced to add in- 

 terest and variety to such occasions, I tliink the 

 practice should be discountenanced and con- 

 demned, as it has a tendency to attract and draw 

 together a class of persons who had much better 

 remain at home, and presents a strong induce- 

 ment or temptation, to abuse and treat unmerci- 

 fully the noblest of all domestic animals. 



If some persons who are very fond of active 

 exercise are disposed to perform a foot race, I 

 suppose there can be no objection, because if any 

 of the competitors perceive they are becoming 

 "bl'Mcti," or broken winded, they can retire from 

 the track and recover their breath, not having any 

 one upon their back or behind them with whip and 

 spur to urge them onward, nvlciis volem. 



