1864. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



25 



planted every year, it would require twenty years 

 to renovate the farm ; and the pieces, which were 

 first seeded down, would by that time be in a 

 very barren condition. Maryland is an example 

 in this matter. Let not Massachusetts, whose ex- 

 ample in politics, education and religion is a guid- 

 ing star to the nation, strive to imitate that rebel- 

 ridden State in it« destructive policy of tobacco 

 raising. Viator. 



Worcester, Nov., 1863. 



Remarks. — We quarrel with no man in the in- 

 dulgence of his appetites and tastes. It some- 

 times becomes a duty to advise, and when it does, 

 we mean to do it in a spirit of kindness. We es- 

 chew tobacco in all its forms, and always have. 

 We believe it to be injurious to the system, and 

 greatly disagreeable to thousands who' do not use 

 it, but yet cannot escape its unpleasant odor and 

 influences. We are sincerely sorry that any of 

 our fanners are turning their attention to the cul- 

 tivation of a crop which can in no way be made a 

 blessing to the human family. We cannot con- 

 scientiously encourage it, though it produce ten 

 times the money profit of any other crop. 



THE INDIAN" CORN. 



We doubt whether our farmers raise any of 

 the large, bulky crops that afford them a better 

 average profit than Indian corn, or one upon 

 which they look with more satisfaction and pride. 

 It is a beautiful crop to look at, from first to last 

 — from the first springing blade through every 

 stage of its growth. What pleasanter sight does 

 any crop present than the corn when two feet 

 high, with its pendulous leaves, gracefully bang- 

 ing over on every side and trembling in the breeze. 

 How rich are the broad, dark green leaves at this 

 period of its growth. In a few days, upon some 

 aspiring stems, "spindles" show themselves, and 

 in a short time they dot the whole field. Then 

 the ears set, the glossy "silk" pushes its way from 

 each kernel to the open day, and the field is in 

 its prime. But the gradual changes which occur 

 in maturing the seed, and in the decay of the 

 plant itself when its work is done, are all inter- 

 esting and instructive, until frosts strike the husks, 

 opening them and revealing the golden ear. It is 

 especially gratifying to raise Indian corn, because 

 it serves so many purposes. In an unripe condi- 

 tion, it is scarcely excelled by anything else, as a 

 palatable, nutritious and wholesome food. In 

 various forms, it subserves the wants of man and 

 beast better than any other grain. It is easily 

 preserved, only requiring to be kept dr%, in order 

 to keep it in good condition for months or for 

 years. 



In addition to these considerations, the corn 

 crop affords us a large amount of the sweetest 

 and most nutritious fodder we have, when it is 

 cut early and properly cured. A field that will 



produce fifty bushels of corn per acre, will give 

 as much excellent fodder as will the average acres 

 of the upland mowing lots in New England. 

 An observing farmer said to us, recently, that he 

 always had noticed that when his corn fodder was 

 gone, his cows decreased in their quality of milk, 

 though well fed on English hay and rowen. We 

 have known the horses of a livery stable kept 

 through an entire winter on the "toppings" of 

 corn, and came out well in the spring, though no 

 more grain was given them than when fed on hay. 



FISK'S PATENT LAMP HEATING APPA- 

 RATUS. 



We have read HalVs Journal of Health with in- 

 terest and profit for several years. His teachings 

 are natural, and reliable. Whatever he advises, 

 we have long thought it safe to follow. Seeing, 

 some time since, his recommendation of the lamp 

 mentioned at the head of this article, we wrote to 

 the Agent to send us one, which he did, and we 

 have already used it sufficiently to add our testi- 

 mony of its value to that of Dr. Hall, the Scien- 

 tific American, and numerous other persons who 

 have used it. 



The patent is a lamp-heating apparatus, for Boil-- 

 ing, Frying, Stewing and Steeping with the same 

 Jlame that lights the room! Of course, it is on a 

 small, compact scale, admirably adapted to the 

 nursery or sick room, but capable of cooking a 

 moderate meal, where fuel and light must be rig- 

 idly economized. The apparatus is of various 

 sizes, holding from ahout a pint to four quarts of 

 water, heated by gas or by a kerosene or coal oil 

 lamp, and having a vessel in which to keep milk 

 or other food warm, or to stew in, and an arrange- 

 ment for frying a small amount of meat. The 

 prices vary from $2 to $5,00. We have never 

 before seen anything of the kind which we thought 

 would afford so much convenience and comfort at 

 so moderate a cost. 



Send to the Agent, William D. Russell, 206, 

 Pearl Street, N. Y., for a pamphlet, with pictures 

 illustrating the lamp, and full descriptions of its 

 use. 



Japanese Customs. — As 6oon as the babe 

 leaves its mother's breast, the first thing it learns 

 is not to walk or to run, but to squat on its heels 

 in this baboon fashion. If the Japanese are on 

 ceremony, then they sink on the mats, resting 

 jointly on heels and knees. And this attitude, 

 also, which would be torture to us, they maintain 

 for hours, apparently without serious inconve- 

 nience. Finally, the day's labor over, or the time 

 for siesta in the heat of the day arrived, they 

 throw themselves down full length on the mat, 

 with a little padded rest, just large enough to re- 

 ceive the occiput or the angle of the jaw, and sleep 

 as soundly as the most fastidious with a feather 

 pillow and bed. — Sir B. Alcock's Three Years in 

 Japan. 



