816 



NEW ENGIAND FARMER. 



Oct. 



some 300 visitors, and were nearly exhausted. 

 However, we had come up to see the sun rise, and 

 wA-e not to be easily discomfited. Patient wait- 

 ing at last brought us our reward in the shape of 

 a veiy palatable supper, at about 9 o'clock, to 

 which all hands did ample justice. 



The next thing was to find lodgings. The Sum- 

 mit House was full — beds, floor and loft, — and 

 the only available room at the Tip Top House was 

 completely taken up, so some twenty-five or thirty 

 of us took possession of the second story of the 

 large stable just below the top of the mountain, 

 where we disposed ourselves on the hay, to the 

 best advantage, and prepared to get all the sleep 

 possible under the circumstances. The stalls and 

 lower floor were filled with horses, which were 

 rather restless through the night, and few of us 

 were fortunate enough to get anything more than 

 "cat naps." The wind blew strongly, shaking the 

 barn till it seemed almost as if we were about to 

 lose the roof over our heads- -a catastrophe by 

 no means impossible, as the ruins of a barn near 

 by, blown to pieces some two yeai's since, testify. 



At 4 o'clock in the morning, we were sum- 

 moned to witness the rising of the sun, and found 

 quite a gale blowing, and some clouds floating 

 about, but not enough to spoil the sunrise, which 

 was better than is often witnessed, though far 

 from perfect. The country, during this visit, ap- 

 peared to be covered with smoke, or vapor, so that 

 the view was not so clear as could be desired. 

 This is not so apt to be the case later in the sea- 

 son. 



In order to take the cars from Gorham, we 

 were compelled to start on our downward trip at 

 5 o'clock. We were less than two hours in reach- 

 ing the bottom, and owing to the clouds of dust 

 which accompanied us were unable to see much 

 of the scenery. Without further adventures of 

 moment, we reached Gorham, took the cars, and 

 were landed at home, having made the whole trip 

 in twenty-three hours. 



And here allow me to say that I will never take 

 another such trip, or advise any one else to. The 

 act of "doing the mountains" in a day, will be 

 found much less agreeable in reality than it looks 

 on paper. The only way to enjoy such trips, is 

 to take plenty of ^me, and if the weather is not 

 favorable when you reach the mountains, wait till 

 it is. You wiM be amply rewarded. 



Yours, &c., Russell P. Eaton. 



Hungarian Grass for Horses. — A corres- 

 pondent of the Itural New Torkcr says that his 

 experience and observation on this point may be 

 thus stated : 



1. Hungarian grass, if allowed to mature the 

 seed before harvesting it, is a very heavy feed. 



2. Fed in this condition, as one would feed 



timothy hay, it is a dangerous food. It does in- 

 jure stock in such cases. 



3. If cut when in bloom and cured as hay, it 

 will not injure any kind of stock. It is exceed- 

 ingly nutritious and valuable as a forage crop ; it 

 is also palatable, and if put on rich soil it is a 

 profitable late crop to put in. 



4. Experiments have demonstrated that the 

 grass with the seed threshed out, does not injure 

 stock, and that if fed lightly with the seed in, as 

 one would feed grain, it is not injurious ; but l3ad 

 eS'ects follow over-feeding, as in the case of oats, 

 corn or other grain. 



5. For a forage crop it is found most profitable, 

 and less dangerous to cut the grass when in blos- 

 som. I know farmers who grow large crops of it, 

 cut at this stage of maturity and feed exclusively 

 to team-horses. They feed no grain. 



For the New England Farmer, 

 THE BACK BAKTSr DOOB. 



BY R. F. PULLER. 



I've a place, you would not choose. 



As for thought, or fancy fit ; 

 Yet, I have the sweetest views ; 



Looking often out of it. 

 You would scorn it, I am sure, 

 For it is a back barn door ! 



'Mongst the ruminating kine, 



Once I chanced to ope the door— 

 What a sweet surprise was mine ! 



For, a view, unknown before, 

 Was unfolded ; and a frame 

 Of abstraction o'er me came ! 



'Twas the porch of day, I saw 



Open in the gorgeous east, 

 O'er a lake, meet mirror for 



Beauty's face and fancy's feast ; 

 And, beyond, were deep, dark wood&, 

 Peopled with ideal moods. 



Since, I've often sought the place. 



And have found it ever fair, 

 Yet, with always varied grace, 



And a changed expression there, 

 Hope-bright, beaming fresh and full 

 Of the glad and beautiful. 



I have seen Aurora there. 



While the day star gems her brow. 

 And her grape-like, purple hair 



Hides but half her naddy glow. 

 Till the sun, like Cyclops-eye, 

 Full-orbed flashes in the sky. 



Spotless ermine there I've seen 



In the woods' unsullied snow. 

 Gilded with the winter sheen 



Of the sunbeams' yellow glow ; 

 And I've seen the clear lake's brim 



Boys and birds alternate skim. 



Every season lends a grace 



To that prospect ; yet, 'tis not 

 Only nature's lovely face 



Makes the beauty of the spot: 

 'Tis my thoughts, that please me more, 

 As I look out from the door. 



Thoughts : In other places oft 



I have missed their wayward train. 

 In broad day, or twilight soft ; 



Here I never look in vain. 

 Inly tides id-al pour 

 As I opi; the ol 1 ' • • ' v. 



