282 



KEW ENGLAND FAKMER. 



JtlNE 



make a good hedge, but it requires careful 

 attention several years to make a fence that will 

 be safe against cattle, and 1 should not be wil- 

 ling- to risk it tb protect a field against hogs. 



Arbor Vita; makes an excellent wmd-break, 

 and should be set at the north and west of 

 barnyards and orchards, and when properly 

 trimmed it makes a fine front fence, though it 

 needs some light material to protect it for sev- 

 eral years. Wire Avill answer. 



I have had no experience with osage orange, 

 but, judging from all reports, I believe it will 

 not prove hardy enough for our Northern cli- 

 mate. T ♦!, 



I pow come to the white willow. In tbe 

 American Agriculturist for 18G3, No. 12, a 

 long article appeared written by one of the 

 Editors, extolling the willow in high terms lor 

 fencing. That paper being considered by 

 many as reliable authority, the article was 

 carefully read, and favorably received. 



The next spring and summer an agent ot t.. 

 S. Pike, of Painesville, Ohio, canvassed this 

 county thoroughly, producing samples of t«on- 

 derfnl growth, glowing handbills with cuts 

 representing beautiful hedges, and recommen- 

 dations from agricultural and other papers, 

 and from distinguished men not a few, in lavor 

 of the white willow for farm fences, ihe 

 thino- took readily. Miles and miles of the 

 cuttmcrs were subscribed for. Farmers who 

 can scarcely tolerate anything from Yankeedom, 

 subscribed freely. 



In the spring of 1865, the precious cuttings 

 came. The rush to secure the game was great 

 The cuttings were tied up in bundles, a tew of 

 good size in each, but a large proportion of 

 small twigs. Some misgivings were apparent 

 in the countenances of purchasers, as one by 

 one the precious bundles were taken away ; 

 each havino- the consolation of knowing that 

 he was not^alone, and that if he had actually 

 bouo-ht willow twigs cut in our own swamps, 

 there was little danger of being laughed at. 



Thousands of dollars in gold or its equiva- 

 lent, were taken from Prince Edwards county ; 

 and in other sections of Canada and of the 

 United States large sums- were paid for that 

 which was expected to make a cheap and du- 

 rable fence. , 



Before one season had passed, the scales 

 betran to foil, and now, after two summers, a 

 cle°ar vision discerns only a few slender withes, 

 where a rank growth was anticipated, iwo 

 men, within my knowledge, have succeeded, by 

 extra care and manuring, in producing a fair 

 growth of willows ; and there may be a few 

 other exceptions to the general rule. 



Such is the state of the white willow 

 "hedges" at the present time, in this part of 

 the country. Barnum has been styled, "The 

 Prince of Humbugs," but the title no longer 

 belongs to him, for the willow swindle is far 

 ahead of any of his sharp practices. 



L. Varney. 

 Bloomjield, C. W.,Dec. 1, 1866. 



For the New England Farmer. 

 BUTTER MAKING. 

 In connection with the ability to make good 

 bread, one of the most valuable attainments, if 

 not accomplishments, which any woman can 

 possess, especially a farmer's wife, is the skill 

 or knowledge how to make good butter. This 

 is not an art that comes of itself. It is fully 

 attained only by study and practice. But with 

 the best skill and judgment^ the first essential 

 requisite is a good cow or cows ; for, other 

 things being equal, all cows will not make 

 equally good butter. Having these, the next 

 thing is their food ; for it is certain that poor, 

 sour swamp grass or hay will not make as rich 

 milk and cream as sweet clover, timothy or 

 red-top. And yet good cows and good feed 

 are not all. To make good butter, there must 

 be a good place to keep the milk and cream. 

 This is a matter too much neglected or over- 

 looked by manv farmers ; and it is to this fact, 

 I apprehend, that is to be attributed much of 

 the poor and ordinary butter found on many 

 tables, and also in the market. 



Go into our farm houses all over New Eng- 

 land, and what, in too many cases, are the ar- 

 rangements and conveniences for conducting 

 this most delicate and important business? 

 Too often the milk-room or pantry is very 

 near the kitchen or leads out of it, so that all 

 the disagreeable odors that escape from the 

 various culinary processes which daily are car- 

 ried on there are more or less absorbed by the 

 milk and cream. And not only this, but fre- 

 quently into the pantry, with the milk, are put, 

 for future use, boiled cabbage and turnip, and 

 onions, raw and cooked, codfish and halibut, — 

 in fact, almost everything that has an agreea- 

 ble as well as disagreeable odor. Besides, m 

 too many instances, the filthy habit of smoking 

 is indulged in by the male members of the 

 household, and sometimes by the female also, 

 so that the house from cellar to garret is more 

 or less impregnated with this most nauseating 

 perfume. 



With such arrangements as these, it is ut- 

 terly impossible for any one, with the best 

 care and.eflbrts, to make butter of the first 

 quality. Even with the utmost attention, only 

 an ordinary article can be produced. And it 

 is no wonder to me that there is such a large 

 amount of poor and second rate butter found 

 in all our markets. It may seem sweet at 

 first ; but the fatal taint is there, and will make 

 itself known long before it reaches its con- 

 sumer. Hence it is no wonder that those who 

 wish to obtain a nice article of butter are wil- 

 lino- to pay the almost fabulous prices which 

 we occasionally hear of being paid for a really 

 nice and reliable article in the city market. 

 To make the best of butter, there must be a 

 room appropriated solely to this purpose, into 

 which nothing that is oifensive or unclean 

 should ever be allowed to enter. Then, when 

 all the other conditions are complied with, 1 



