120 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



March 



$70,000,000 worth of wool the past year. It 

 seems as though they must see that sending so 

 much money out of the country for wool, while 

 so many of our farmers hold one clip, and a 

 great many hoo, — and flooding the country 

 with cloth more than there is any sale for, will 

 not work for their advantage. If that money 

 had been paid out at home much of it would 

 have found its way back to the manufactitrers. 



In my small circle of ac(]uaintances I know 

 of several old overcoats and cloaks that will 

 have to do duty another year, because "wool 

 don't sell," and I dare say it is so throughout 

 the country. You may say that this only ap- 

 plies to a few, — the wool-growers. But I be- 

 lieve it has a wider application than one would 

 at first think. When the farmers are short for 

 money they do not buy new tools ; do not re- 

 pair their buildings ; do not hire help to ditch, 

 and make other improvements on the farm ; do 

 not travel for pleasure ; do not buy unnecessary 

 clothing. This reminds me of a "little story" 

 I once heard my fixther tell of a very poor 

 neighbor, who lost his cow. It was at a time 

 when cows were cheap, and some of his friends 

 were congratulating him that he could buy 

 another for ten dollars. "Yes," says he, "if 

 you could buy one for two cents, and you hain't 

 got the two cents, what good will it do?" 



Our country is broad enough to raise all the 

 wool, and that of every kind, that is needed, 

 if it can be properly protected. Although the 

 cloth may cost a trifle more, the money will be 

 here to pay for it with. Wool Grower. 



Norivich, Vt., Jan. 10, 1867. 



For the New England Farmer. 

 SQUASHES AND "WATERMELONS. 



A BIT FOR THE BOYS. 



It is no trifle of a matter to know when and 

 how to plant and sow. And then it is some- 

 thing to understand what seeds to put into our 

 land. Seeds may be too old to grow ; and they 

 may be too fresh, we know. We shall none of 

 us be too wise, if we study long ; and without 

 care we may be quite foolish and wrong. 



Last summer I planted about aijuarter of an 

 acre of squashes. They were of the Autum- 

 nal Marrow. Part of the seeds were several 

 years old, and part were fresh seeds of 1865. 

 They were in the same field, but not mixed to- 

 gether. The ground was all dressed, as 

 nearly as possible, alike. Well, what of it? 



The fresh seeds came up more readily, in 

 little if any more than half the time taken by 

 the old seeds. They were all planted on the 

 first day of June, which is as early as I ever 

 want to plant such squashes, except perhaps 

 some to be very early. 



The ))laiits from the old seeds had squashes 

 set on tlicm a week or ten days earlier than 

 those from tlic fresh seeds ; and they matured 

 more and Itctter scjuashes than the others, and 

 no mistake. 



It is not always best, boys, to plant fresh 



seeds. I hold squashes, at least, to be an ex- 

 ception. I like to have seeds selected from 

 the very best, and carefully dried, and then 

 carefully marked in the package, as to the kind, 

 and the year they were raised. The children 

 of young seeds are like unsteady boys, too 

 fond of running about — grow too much vine. 



And another bit for the boys. Don't you 

 like good, first-rate ivatermelons ? If you do, 

 the cows do likewise. I like to have enough 

 of them to select the best ; and then the cows 

 will pay for what you give them, liberally. 



A compost of night-soil, charcoal dust, plas- 

 ter and muck, will grow as nice watermelons 

 as a king or a cow ought to covet. They are 

 not only very delicious for us poor humans, 

 but they are among the very best bits to bring 

 down a flood of nice, sweet milk. Will the 

 boys about the farm put this in a corner of their 

 thinking-caps for next summer's use ? I think 

 they will not regret it, and I know the cows 

 will not. A. G. C. 



Lee, N. R., Jan., 1867. 



Remarks. — In the above writer, the older 

 readers of the Farmer will recognize the well 

 known features of a most genial and well re- 

 membered acquaintance, w'hom we shall all be 

 glad to see more frequently during the present 

 "Happy New Year." 



EXTRACTS AND REPLIES. 



WARM BREAKFAST FOR THE HENS IN AVINTER. 



It is a practice with many who Iceep poultry to 

 feed tliem these sharp winter mornings witli grain 

 so cold and frosty, that our hands aclie the little 

 time that is required in throwing it out. Let those 

 who dislike a cold breakfast themselves take a dish 

 of corn and set it under the stove a few moments, 

 or pour hot water on it. It will soon heat either 

 way. After feeding of your poidtry, the lively 

 cooing and singing will repay you for your trouble. 



Now, Mr. Farmer, if you feel disposed to ele- 

 vate your eyclirows, because a woman has stepped 

 in your path, my excuse is that had you done your 

 duty, I should not have deemed it mine to speak 

 for "the biddies. Millie. 



Waterbury, Vt., Dec. 26, 1866. 



Remarks. — "Elevate the eyebrows ?" Why, in- 

 stead of that, one of our blandest smiles was excit- 

 ed by your humane suggestions. But, dear "Millie," 

 we know of a good woman who not only warms a 

 dish of corn for her hens of a cold morning, but 

 also, very slightly, a dish of clean water, which 

 she thinks adds much to the volume and richness 

 of that song of gratitude which so well repays you 

 for your care and labor. 



feeding bees. 



Information is wanted as to the best time, place 

 and mimncr for feeding bees. There are almost as 

 many ways of feeding bees as neat stock. I know 

 of no method which possesses any merit but top 

 feeding. 



Dissolve the best grade of lirovvn sugar in water, 

 bring to a scald, remove the scum. It should then 



