1867. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



125 



so deeply, that the subsequent plowings will be 

 much easier, to say nothing of the increase of 

 crops. I most heartily congratulate the tillers 

 of the soil in view of its general introduction. 

 And then, the hoeing is so much easier, one 

 can hardly refrain from "three cheei's for the 

 invention." 



Excuse me for this lengthy letter. Perhaps 

 T have taken more space than I should, but 

 having used the implement, and experienced 

 its benefits, I wished to present the evidence. 

 Yours for "the best," always, 



Weare, N. H., Jan., 18G7. Z. Breed. 



For the New England FaTmer. 

 APPLE TREES— SEEDING LAND— 

 BONES, &c. 



Messrs. Editors : — ^Please accept the thanks 

 of "^n Inquiring Owner of a Murk-bed'''' for 

 your replies to inquiries in the Farmer of 

 Dec. 8th. I am not in ecstacies over being 

 made suddenly rich, but shall endeavor to profit 

 by your calculations, and find out by actual 

 trial what benefit there is in the muck, and try 

 to make "two blades of grass grow where only 

 one grows now." 



I was also so well pleased with your article 

 on Pruning Apple Trees, in reply to a corres- 

 pondent, and was so ' convinced by your logic 

 that the first suitable day I went into my or- 

 chard and trimmed the trees that were left in the 

 smnmer. 



1 . Now I wish to be informed if apple trees 

 set out where old apple trees stood will do as 

 well. My orchard was set out by my father, 

 perhaps 40 years ago, and what trimming it has 

 had was in the spring, when he was ready to 

 plow it. Many of the trees are decayed where 

 the larger limbs were cut off, and do not produce 

 any perfect fruit. I wish to take away those 

 trees this winter, cultivate the ground well dur- 

 ing the summer, manuring it well, and next 

 spring set other trees in then* places. Will they 

 thrive .'' 



2. I have two acres of stalk ground ; on one 

 half of It I wish to sow oats, and on the other 

 plant potatoes, and seed do^vn in the fall with 

 rye and grass. I propose to sow the oats with- 

 out manure, as it was heavily manured for corn 

 last spring, but to manure for potatoes at the 

 rate of 10 or 12 cords per acre, then sow on 

 gi'ound bone at the rate of half a ton per acre, 

 as bone does better on my land for grass and 

 gi'ain than any other fertilizer that I have ever 

 used. 



When is the best time to sow the bone ? when 

 the ground is prepared for potatoes, when they 

 are being cultivated, or when the ground is laid 

 down ? When is the best time to sow it on the 

 oat ground ? and will it pay to plow the oat 

 ground more than once after the oats are taken 

 off? 



I would lilce the experience of others with 

 these crops, and that is why I send these 

 inquiries now, for I feel that the columns of the 



enlarged Farmer will be of too much value to 

 betaken up with my imjuiries or experience. 



This is a progressive age, and there is a grow- 

 ing interest in agriculture. Farmers, young 

 farmers in particular, are reading more, and 

 are more desirous to acquire information on 

 the subject and to learn the experience of those 

 grown wise in the business, than ever before ; 

 and I think I am justified in the assertion that 

 there are more agricultural papers and books 

 read now than in any previous year. 



I would therefore like to put one (juestion to 

 our successful and experienced farmers. IIov;- 

 can you give your infiuonce to advance the 

 farming interest of New England more than by 

 spending a portion of the cold and stormy days 

 of this winter in giving jour experience through 

 the columns of tfie Farmer on the management 

 of farm and stock P Experior. 



Mij Farm, Mass., Dec. 22, 18GG. 



Remarks. — 1. Young apple trees set out 

 where old ones have been growing will undoubt- 

 edly do well under proper treatment, although 

 we should prefer another location. They 

 will need a deep, rich soil, and a half peck of 

 unleached ashes strewed around them once in 

 each year. If large trees with overshadowing 

 branches are near, they will affect the young 

 trees ; but if 30 or 40 feet away, they will not 

 sensibly injure them, under the treatment sug- 

 gested for the new ones. It will be of advan- 

 tage to dig about the young trees whenever 

 the land lies in grass — the broader the diameter 

 the better. 



2. Bone acts slowly, and we should therefore 

 sow it when the ground is prepared for the crop- 

 either of potatoes or oats. 



The columns of the "enlarged Farmer" will 

 always welcome your inquiries or cxpei'ience. 

 Would that many others would furnish theirs. 



For the New England Farmer. 

 THE TARIFF UPON WOOL. 



I have watched with deep Interest, as have 

 a great many others, all that has been said 

 upon the question of the tariff upon avooI; and 

 I see by your issue of Jan. 5, that you think 

 that Congress is not going to Increase the du- 

 ties on wool so as to help the wool growing inter- 

 est. I suppose it is owing in a great measure 

 to the outside pressure or lobbying of the man- 

 ufacturers. Now it seems to me that the man- 

 ufacturers are not only injuring the farming 

 interest of the country, but are also cutting 

 their own throats, as the prosperity of the wool- 

 producer and manufacturer are so closely con- 

 nected that what works for the interest of one 

 must work for the interest of the other. 



I see it stated that there has been imported 



