356 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



Nov. 



GRAPES FOR THE MILLIOIT ! 



Messrs. Strong & Spooner, the skilful and 

 enterprising proprietors of the extensive nurs^-j' 

 grounds at Nonanium Hill, in Brighton, recently 

 sent us samples of some of their products, which 

 encourage us to believe that sweet, delicious 

 grapes may yet be grown in our climate, and in 

 such profusion as to justify using them as an arti- 

 cle of food, instead of as a mere luxurj'. 



Among the several verieties of grapes was Al- 

 len's Hijhrid, which, to our taste, entirely surpass- 

 es in good qualities every other out-door grape 

 in our knowledge. They state that, when the 

 vines are covered with earth in the winter, "the 

 Allen is perfectly hardy, and in summer is very 

 vigorous, and resists sun and mildew as well as 

 any ; it is very productive, and ri])ens with the 

 Concord. Why does it not promise to be to 

 America what the Chasselas is to France ?" 



It may become so, in degree. The grape there 

 takes the place of bread and meat with certain 

 classes of the people. Would it not be better for 

 us if more fruit were used, and less flesh, as a 

 part of the meal ? 



Allen's Hybrid is a sweet grape, and would 

 prove acceptable to most tastes. We are greatly 

 gratified with the success of this grape, shall cer- 

 tainly make haste to plant it in our own grounds, 

 and advise all lovers of so wholesome and deli- 

 cious a fruit to do the same. 



A specimen of Seedling Crab Apple sent is 

 fairly entitled to'the term superb. The tree would 

 be highly ornamental on a lawn. 



Messrs. Strong and Spooner will please accept 

 thanks for calling our attention to the excellent 

 products of their care. 



Frost in the Tropics.— A correspondent of 

 a Michigan paper, writing at the ancient city of 

 Augustine, Florida, makes tbe following state- 

 ment as to the destruction of orange trees by a 

 severe frost, nearly thirty years ago : 



Prior to the year 1835 this vicinity was an im- 

 mense orange orchard. Matured thrifty trees, 

 sometimes produced 6,000 oranges, and the aver- 

 erage produce per annum, of a single tree, was 

 500. When the business was in its prime the 

 yearly export was between two and three millions 

 of dollars, from this city alone; but one night in 

 the month of February, 1835, a frost cut off the 

 entire species of the orange tribe. Thus one of the 

 greatest resonrces of the city was cut off, many 

 were hurled from the seat of affluence, into pover- 

 ty and distress. The city has never yet recovered 

 from tlie blight of that stroke. Many shoots have 

 sprung up, but have struggled under the pressure 

 of disease, and the ravages of animalcula, which 

 prey on the life of young shoots. 



Col. Dudley, of Royalton, Vermont, has cut 

 six tons of hay to the acre this season, which is 

 recorded as a big yield in the Green Mountain 

 State. 



EXTRACTS AND REPLIES. 



SICK CALVES. 



There is a disease among my calves that I know 

 nothing about. The symptoms arc a dry ,husRy cough, 

 loss of flesh, and in the last stnges short breath, droop- 

 ing of the head, and froth at the mouth. I killed one 

 of them and made an examination, and found the 

 lungs very large and filled with white worms from two 

 to three inches long, and as big round as a common 

 pin. My calves were pastured where I have pastured 

 calves for a number of 3-ears. They have had plenty 

 of feed and water, and have run alone, except a few 

 diiys in haying I put my oxen in with them. If you, 

 or any of your correspondents, can give information 

 it will be thankfully received by J. F. Whittle. 



Jrasburg, Vt., Sept. 1863. 



koger's hybrid, and other grapes. 



I wish to get some information concerning the nevy^ 

 Hybrid grapes of Mr. Rogers, presuming that somo^ 

 of your readers have this season either fruited them 

 or seen them fruiting. From what I h.ive been able 

 to learn concerning them, I have supposed that No. 19 

 was the most promising one fur Masbuchusetts culture. 

 Is this opinion correct } Does it prove to be as early 

 us the Concord ? I should also like to ascertain wheth- 

 er No. 5, or any of the other numbers, are proving to 

 be valuable for us here in New England. Will your 

 correspondent "Saggahew" please throw a little light 

 upon the matter ? 



Brackett's SaedUng was highly commended in your 

 last volume, and the present season has given further 

 opportunity for testing it ; no dout>t many your read- 

 ers would like to hear more about it. Does it ripen as 

 early as Concord — and prove as valuable as was ex- 

 pected .' VlTIS. 



Remarks.— If "Saggahew" has not the means "of 

 answering the above, perhaps our horticultural corres- 

 pondent, Mr. Hyde, of Newton, may be able to. Col. 

 Wilder is cultivating and tcstingthese grapes, and un- 

 doubtedly has an intimate knowledge of their merits. 

 Perhaps he may be able to answer the inquiries. 



FAKM DICTIONARY. 



Will you let me know through the Neio England 

 Farmer Monthly, which is the best and most compre- 

 hensive "Farm Dictionary" published, and where it 

 can be oljtained, and the price ? I want something 

 which gives the dctiaition of all "Farm phrases." 



Remarks. — The best work in our knowledge is the 

 Farmer's Encyelopredia. It may be procured at-thid 

 office for about $'4.00. 



"PTJMl'S." 



In your last number Mr. Noyes makes some inqui- 

 ries iu relation to pumps. I hive been experimenting 

 with pumps for the last forty j^ears, at the cost of somti 

 hundred dollars — I have tried many of the highly 

 extolled patent pumps in that time, and have aban- 

 doned them as humbugs. I know nothhig of West's 

 l)atent, never having heard of it before. But from my 

 long experience I have come to the conclusion that 

 the old-fashioned log pump, when scientifically made, 

 is the l^est pump for family use, or for watering stock, 

 yet invented. 



Mr. Elkanah Wood, Jr., of Norton, Mass., perfectly" 

 understands the business, and will furnish an excel- 

 lent pump at a very moderate cost. 1 have known Mr. 

 Wo(jd for many years, and have employed him in the 

 pump line, as have many of my neighbors, and he 

 has given perfect satisfaction to all. d. 



No. Pembroke, Sept. 28, 1863. 



pure shake bag FCrWLS. 



win yon, or some of your correspondents, inform 

 me where I can purchase some pure Shake Bag Fowls f 

 Claremont, N. H. O. D. Blood. 



Remarks. — We do not know. Perhaps Mr. J. S. 

 Ives, of Salem, or some other poultry dealer, can in- 

 form our correspondent. 



