1867. 



NEW ENGLAND FARIklER. 



287 



been assessed on all importations of wool since 

 the Act went into effect, under its provisions. 

 The Secretary also says that it is believed 

 that the samples, arranged by Mr. Bond, and 

 now awaiting the examination of the represen- 

 tatives of the National Associations of Wool 

 Growers and Wool Manufactui'ers, represent 

 all, or nearly all, the various descriptions of 

 wool usually imported, and hence he does not 

 deem it necessary to send an agent abroad at 

 all, or certainly not until he sees some neces- 

 sity for so doing. 



Mr. Bond has prepared specimens of seven- 

 ty different grades or classes of wool, which it 

 would seem might enable the department to 

 classify any new variety that is not expressly 

 represented by either of these specimens. 

 Twelve setts of these specimens have been pre- 

 pared; one of which is in 'Washington, the 

 others are still in Mr. Bond's office in Boston. 

 We have examined them with much interest. 

 Each specimen is put into a glass tube or jar, 

 oh inches in diameter and some 13 inches long, 

 which is plainly numbered and marked at each 

 end. For convenience of reference and safety 

 of preservation, Mr. Bond has devised a case 

 of pigeon-holes, in which these specimens are 

 deposited and arranged according to the class 

 and grade to which they belong. The whole 

 forms a museum of foreign wool which must be 

 interesting to all who grow or manufacture this 

 important staple. 



We notice by the Rural New Yorker that 

 Dr. Randall proposes that the case of samples 

 now at "Washington be sent to New York for 

 the purpose of enabling the committee of the 

 Wool Growers and Manufacturers who are to 

 examine them to avail themselves of the facili- 

 ties for investigation and comparison to be 

 found there. As the duplicate cases are all 

 here, we should have supposed that Boston in- 

 stead of New York would have been selected 

 by the committee for their place of meeting. 



A GARDEN OF ACCLIMATIO]Sr. 



In the annual report of 18G5, the Commis- 

 sioner suggested that the government estab- 

 lish a garden of acclimation, where animals, 

 as well as plants, could be acclimated and then 

 distributed over the country. 



A Little Valley, N. Y., correspondent high- 

 ly appi-oves of this suggestion, and states that 

 he has for fifteen years been engaged in do- 



mesticating some of our native wild animals. 

 He commenced with one of the noblest of our 

 forest animals, the Elk, and the result has 

 been a success, having bred and raised forty 

 elk on his farm ! He has also bred the mink. 

 He "found that it required some experienca or 

 skill to manage the wild ones taken from the 

 woods until they reared their first young ; but 

 with the second generation the difficulties were 

 ovei'come, and it proves comparatively easy to 

 raise them in large .numbers. 



This is exceedingly interesting. The races 

 of beautiful and valuable animals that were 

 once plenty among us ought not to be allowed 

 to pass entirely away. Perhaps all of them 

 might be made to prove profitable in a pecuni- 

 ary point of view, as well as interesting. 



The "■Notes of the Weather,'''' from nearly 

 all parts of our country, show that the month 

 of January, 1867, was the coldest, most bois- 

 terous, and with the heaviest flill of snow, of 

 any month of Januaiy since that of 1857. 



For the New England Farmer. 

 THE GAKDEN. 



A few hints to remind the readers of the 

 Farmer of the appropriate garden work of 

 the season may not be amiss. Little is gained 

 in being in a hurry in planting in the open air, 

 as there are but few kinds of vegetables 

 which are not sensitive to the frosts and cold 

 that may be expected the fore part of May in 

 New England. Still there are a few hardy 

 plants, the seeds of which may be sown regard- 

 less of light frosts. Taking up our subjects 

 alphabetically, we begin with 



Asparagus. — Dig in a dressing of manure, if 

 not already done, and the shoots are not start- 

 ed ; if so, a dressing of superphosphate of lime, 

 lightly raked in is best. Clear olf all rubbish. 

 i\lay will give you a fine supply. Cut 3 to 4 

 inches below the surface with a long, narrow 

 knife, using care not to injure other shoots. 



Beans. — If poles are not on hand, prepare 

 them now. Nothing is gained by planting till 

 settled warm weather. If you feci anxious to 

 have a few early, start them on sods in a hot 

 bed, or under glass. When the weather is 

 settled, and ground warm, plant all varieties, 

 reserving the Limas to the last, as they are 

 the most tender. 



Beets. — These will bear earlier planting. 

 Sow in drills one foot apart, using plenty of 

 seed, and thin them out for greens. The 

 Early Bassino, for summer, and Long Blood, 

 for winter, are good varieties. 



Cabbage. — Seed may be sown in the open 

 ground any time after it is warm. Plants 

 started in the hot-bed should be transplanted 



