1863. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



S21 



EXTRACTS AND KEPLIES. 



PREMATIKE BIRTHS — APPLE TREES. 



You requested my views relative to the canse of pre- 

 mature Ijirths of calves. Those births, I think, arc 

 caused by certain noxious substances eaten by cows, 

 and not by a disease impregnated by the male. The 

 latter theory is ajainst all the known laws on the sub- 

 ject, and all the practice of the medical fraternity on 

 human subjects, whose laws on paternity are the same 

 with the beast of the field and the wild animal of the 

 wood. Every one who has had much practice in ob- 

 stetrics kuow that many are the cases of prostitutes who 

 become mothers. Cows which have produced prema- 

 ture births were found to be free of disease, but in 

 some cases malformation existed. Now for my theo- 

 ry. Ergot is used by the abortionist to bring on labor 

 and premature births of children, and it does its work. 

 That sul;stancc exists in diseased rye, and in those lo- 

 calities where great quantities of rye bread are used, in- 

 numerable are the cases of premature births, and cases 

 are on record, in which it has been supposed that ab- 

 sorption through the body which was in contact with 

 rj'e straw, prudiuod the same effect. If so, why not 

 acton the herds of cattle? So numerous were the 

 cases in France, that Louis Napoleon issued a com- 

 mission to certain skilled persons to make a thorough 

 investigation of the causes of the disease. They found 

 that other than diseased rye had the effect. Smutty 

 wneat, black cars which affec loats and barley, in 

 warm, damp seasons, diseased club roots of calibage 

 and turnips, when eaten, produced the same effect as 

 ergot. I have no doubt but there are various wild 

 weeds of the field which are of that class. I would 

 like to hear the opinion of others on the subject. 



It is a fact, that apples trees raised from the seed of 

 grafted fruit do not hear. 8. p. m. 



Cape EUzcibtith, Me., 1863. 



Remaks. — This subject underwent a most searching 

 discussion, some time ago, by the Concord Farmers' 

 Chd), at a meeting when that distniguished farmer. 

 Gov. HoLBROoK, of Vermont, was present, and in 

 which he took a part. The theory now spoken of by 

 our correspondent, was then introduced and urged as 

 the cause of abortion. In reply, it was stated by one 

 of the members, that not a peck of r3'e had been 

 raised on his farm, nor any rye straw used, for ten 

 years, and yet he had nine cases of abortion in one 

 season ! Every weed theory was met with just such a 

 negative argument. Some imputed the disease to the 

 presence of a plant called "stink weed," but others 

 stated that while such a plant did not exist on their 

 farm, cases of abortion were often occurring in their 

 cows. 



Some time since, this whole matter was referred to 

 a committee of the "Farmers' Club of Little Falh, X. 

 F.,"to investigate and report upon it. They did both, 

 but without throwing the least light upon the two lead- 

 ing points, Vjz. : the cause and the remedy. 



PICKLES. 



Your untiring correspondent on "Little Things, Or 

 a Walk in my Garden," never failed to interest the 

 reader. His "Little Things," tell. His treatment of 

 the cabbage plant, to keep it from the cut worm, is ex- 

 cellent, as alM>, the i»rescrvation of the tomato from 

 ripening and rotting on the ground. But pickles is 

 the text. Small cabbage heads cut in quarters make 

 a delicious pickle. Mrs. P. would think her pi«kle 

 department short, if she had not her dozen red cat>- 

 bages in spiced vincsar. Would not the white Savoy 

 be more tender ? While I would eschew grapes, but- 

 ternuts and tough string beans for pickles, I would 

 adopt the countrj' artichoke, the red or Savoy caVi- 

 bage — the martynia, with its mousy resemblance, and 

 finish with the indispensable cucumber, as old as the 

 ancients. 



P. S. Acres of artichokes are cultivated in New 

 Jersey for pickles and salads, and sell for a dollar a 

 peck "in New York market. 



New York, August, 1863. 



A PUZZLING MEADOW. 



I have a meadow that is capable of raising two tons 

 of hay to the acre, but it yields but about one. I am 

 afraid to plough for fear it will wash. Will the editor 

 or some reader of his valuable paper, inform ine how 

 I can bring it in again ? It seems to be bound out; 

 the grass is a short, fine meadow grass, that now grows 



on it. A aEADEB. 



Norway, Aug. 12, 1863. 



Remarks. — Will our correspondent send us a more 

 particular description of the meadow in question, 

 — whether it is nearly level or not, whether it is muck, 

 and if so, how deep, and whether it can be drained at 

 moderate expense. With these questions answered, 

 we Uiink some suggestions may be made that will be 

 useful. 



NATIVE COFFEE. 



That coffee can be successfully raised in this State, 

 my neighbors have long demonstrated, but they know 

 nothing of the method of curing it. Will you inform 

 me whether the flavor of native coffee is cuual to that 

 from the tropics ? Whether the leaves contain any 

 nutriment ? Whether the pods should be cut srreen, 

 or left to ripen on the stalk, and when should they be 

 gathered ? And state the process of removing the 

 covering of the seeds ? My neighbors, not understand- 

 ing the process of curing it, have been obliged to l)oil 

 the coffee whole, skin and all, and the prcsc'iice of this 

 latter substance has so mueli Impaired the flavor of 

 the drink as to convince me that the skin should be 

 thrown away. Enclosed find a specimen of mj' cof- 

 fee, gathered to-day. Amanda Gilbert. 



South Leeds, Me., Aucfust, 1863. 



Remarks. — The "pod" of coffee sent was received 

 in good condition, but does not answer the description 

 given in the books of the appearance of the common 

 coffee of the shops. The description before us says,— 

 "The berries and fruit are somewhat of an oval shape, 

 about the size of a cherry, and of a dark red color, 

 when ripe. Each of these contains two cells, and 

 each cell a single seed, which is the seed as we see it 

 before it undergoes the process of roasting." 



The account adds, — "When the fruit lias attained 

 its maturity, cloths are placed under the trees, and 

 upon these the laborers shake it down. They after- 

 wards spread the berries on mats, and expose them to 

 the sun to dry. The husk is then broken off, by large 

 and heavy rollers of wood or iron. When the coffee 

 s thus cleared of its husk, it is again dried in the sun 

 and, lastly, winnowed with a large fan, for the purpose 

 of cleaning it from the pieces of husks with which it 

 is intermingled." 



The questions as to the comparative flavor of cofibe, 

 and the leaves, we are not able to answer. 



PREMIt'MS ON WHEAT. 



Do vou notice in the advertisement of the great In- 

 ternational Wheat Show, at Rochester, N. Y., that no 

 l)remiums are offered on spring wheat, while large 

 preiiHnms arc offered on winter wheat ? This is proof 

 of the great superiority of winter over the spring grain. 

 It is to be hoped there are some New Englmul tarniers 

 to compete for the prizes, the writer having raided 

 wheat weighing 62 pounds to the bushel in "old Es- 

 sex." Yankee land "can't be beat" in wheat growing. 



p. 



A -WITTY AUCTIONEER. 



Many years ago there flourislied in New York 

 an auctioneer named Keese, who had quite a rep- 

 utation for wit and humor. A correspondent of 

 the Publisher's Circuhtr says of him : 



"Keese is remembered by the trade with affec- 

 tion, lie was a bright, intelligent man, and an 



