1867. 



NEW ENGLAND FARJiIER. 



211 



dustrv. I have not said as much as I should 

 have liked to on this sul)jcc-t, but I fear I have 

 si)un it out too long already for your columns 

 and 3oar readers. 



If it would be acceptable to you, I should 

 like one of these days to say a few words about 

 grape wine. Sylvksteii S. Chamberlin. 



Chester, N. IL, Feb. 12, 1867. 



RemahivS. — On the third day of November 

 last we gathered and ate grapes from the vines 

 of which our correspondent speaks. Much of 

 the foliage on one or two of the vines was then 

 upon them, and in quite a green condition. 

 The grapes were thoroughly ripened, large 

 and of delicious flavor. Frost had not touched 

 the fruit, and only very slightly the foliage, if 

 at all. Their location is on a high swell of 

 land, where frost, we believe, never injures 

 late planted crops of corn. We have had 

 statements much like these of IMr. Chamberlin, 

 from another correspondent, in regard to the 

 culture of the Isabella grape, and hope this 

 will influence a great many persons, having a 

 suitable locality, to engage in the culture of 

 this variety of the grape. One principal reason 

 for this hope is, because the Isabella is one of 

 the best grapes to keep — perhaps the very best 

 -T-for winter use. A friend from Western New 

 York informs us that he raises them abundant- 

 ly, and that when ripe they are gathered, and 

 packed in clean flour barrels, in layers of cot- 

 ton, and that they are used by the family — 

 children and all — with as much freedom as 

 apples are used. These are kept in closets 

 where the temperature is cool and as even as 

 possible, and usually last until about mid- 

 winter. 



For the Xew England Farmer. 

 "A PLEA rOR THE BIDDIES" AN- 

 S'Wi.BED. 



In the weekly FAiniER of Feb. 16, "Idex''' 

 desires to know, if a certain profit is obtained 

 from ten fowls, why ten tiuies that profit can- 

 not be realized from one hiuidred, and twenty 

 times from two hundred and so on indefinitely. 



This is not a new question, and it often puz- 

 zles the novice and those who farm extensively 

 upon thi^ blackboard or paper; but the expe- 

 rienced readily see many reasons why, practi- 

 cal!}-, in the poultry yard, the rule of three is 

 of little account. I'^pon every farm and about 

 every bouse with a small piece of land, a cer- 

 tain numljer of fowls may l)e kept at a trifling 

 expense: for in warm weatlier they pickup 

 most of'tlieir living from what would otherwise 

 be wasted or lost. In roving about the fields, 



pastures, and gardens, and in scratching every 

 nook and corner of the yards, stables, and 

 buildings, they lead the life their instincts 

 teach them, and tlicy can be kept in the most 

 healthy, productive and profitable condition. 

 True, Biddy, in followingout her ideas of right 

 and prosperity, is at times provokingly mischiev- 

 ous ; yet she more than compensates in the 

 good she does in making havoc on insect life, 

 and gathering up scatteied food that would be 

 lost, if not breed vermin. 



In this free and inexpensive way, the largest 

 portions of poultry and eggs are produced, and 

 of course in markets supplied chiefly by those 

 who raise at the lowest cost possible, must he 

 compete, who keeps fowls upon so large a scale 

 that all their food must be bought or provided 

 for them. Were there no other diihculties, 

 who could produce a dozen eggs or a pair of 

 chickens at the least cost? 



But suppose any farmer who now keeps 

 twenty or thirty fowls, should increase the 

 number by ten or five fold, will the profits fol- 

 low in like ratio ? The present small number 

 is kept without much trouble or expense upon 

 the gleanings and wastes of the flirm, and is 

 about all that can be thus supported ; there- 

 fore any considerable addition of numbers must 

 draw constantly upon the granary and must in- 

 crease the cost of keeping per head and, of 

 course, cause a like decrease of profit. 



While a small number of fowls about a farm 

 if not a pleasure, are not much trouble, a large 

 flock roaming at will could not be tolerated ; 

 and with close confinement come other diffi- 

 culties. Biddy's life now partakes of the ar- 

 tificial ; she chafes under restraint, and mani- 

 fests her ill feelings by being fretty and (juar- 

 relsome. Through her extreme modesty and 

 seeretiveness she dislikes to lay in the presence 

 of others, or in another's nest, and when com- 

 pelled to do so, she is inclined to be a little 

 obstinate or indid'erent about lajing at all. 

 From the busy, bustling body, that had an Q^g 

 for nearly every day when running about the 

 yards and buildings, under only partial re- 

 straint and indulged in her set notions, she be- 

 comes, afrer lo?ig and close confinement, lazy, 

 walks idly about, willing to be fed by her mis- 

 tress or master, but without a tliought of re- 

 paying their kindness. It is true, some of 

 biddy's whims can be overcome by care and 

 ingenuity in the construction of her apartment ; 

 l)ut it is doubtful if the bad influence of having 

 larcre numliers together can be obviated. 



The chief objection, however, to confining 

 fowls is the great difficulty of maintaining 

 their health. Did the same mortality prevail 

 amonjr sheep, horses, cows or hogs that always 

 exi.-t in larire collections of poultry, keeping 

 domestic animals would be discouraging in- 

 deed. Fowls arc not fastidious in their taste, 

 nor of cleanlv habits; but they are subject to 

 that universal law of nature, olfensiveness and 

 deleterious effects of their own excrements. 

 After awhile the soil of the yards and 



