1867. 



NEW ENGLAND FARRIER. 



289 



•whicli has been successfully introduced fi'om 

 Middle Europe. 



The least valued of our own pines is the 

 pitch pine ; but for its picturestiue beauty, its 

 hardiness, and the fact that it thrives on sandy 

 plains where no other pine succeeds, it de- 

 serves a better character. It approaches near- 

 er than any other American tree, in its quali- 

 ties and appearance, to the common pine of 

 Europe, called, in England, the Scotch pine 

 or Scotch fir. Every other pine is apt to be 

 ftifFand monotonous. The pitch pine is never 

 so ; it is always modest and unpretending, 

 common but not vulgar, with a wild beauty 

 and picturestpieness of its own. A low round 

 hill covered with it, near the residence of the 

 Plon. Judge Thomas, in Jamaica Plain, is one 

 of the most agreeable objects in that pleasant 

 neighborhood. 



There are several varieties of the lofty Nor- 

 way spruce, — the Avhite fir of Norway, the red 

 fir of Norway, and the weeping Norway spruce, 

 — which are deservedly favorites with lovers of 

 trees. They have the recommendation, — no 

 small one with us, consistent republicans, — of 

 being distinguished foreigners. Till lately, 

 they had the additional charm of being rare. 

 They deserve all the attention they have re- 

 ceived. They have been introduced into the 

 lawns of many of our rich men in the neigh- 

 borhood of all our cities. If the spruces and 

 firs of our own woods are less imposing, they 

 have still great merits, and ought to receive 

 more attention. 



But there is another tree of the same 

 family, which, in beauty and in utility as a 

 screen, is unsurpassed and deserves special 

 notice. It is the common hemlock, with 

 spray and leaves finer than those of any other 

 tree of our climate, or perhaps of any region 

 of the earth. This gives the tree, while it is 

 young, the appearance of the most exquisite 

 delicacy. The leaves, like those of the other 

 evergreens, grow constantly darker as they 

 grow older, so that, in the spring, the close-set, 

 bright yellow, minute, tender leaves, coming 

 out from the opening buds, look like petals of 

 a strange, exquisite flower, at the end of every 

 twig. 



The young trees are extremely well suited 

 to form a" hedge. They submit patiently to 

 the pruning kniie. The terminal branchlets are 

 so small that they make a closer hedge than 

 any other plant ; and they may be so managed 

 as to rise to any height desired. 



As seen in a thick forest, the tree is often 

 unsightly, and gives a false impression of its 

 character. The lower branches, killed by ab- 

 sence of light, are extremely brittle, and 

 break, not, like those of the true pines, close to 

 the trunk, but at any point, giving it an ex- 

 tremely ragged appearance. None need be 

 alarmed by this fact. For the fii-st half cen- 

 tury, the hemlock always has the appearance 

 of extreme youth. One of them standing by 

 itself, and allowed room to expand its branches 



on every side, will continue very handsome 

 for a century. 



The red cedar which flourishes upon poor, 

 hard, rocky hills, which the other pines disdain, 

 has a vast variety of character. Neglected, 

 it is apt to become scraggy and ragged. But 

 with a little pruning, often without it, it is as 

 symmetrical as an Oriental cypress, which, at 

 a little distance, it perfectly resembles. 



The white cedar, a true cypress, is a tree of 

 extreme beauty. Nothing can exceed the 

 gracefulness of its top and upper branches. 

 It is hardy and will live anywhere, but grows 

 well only in very moist situations. 



There are very many foreign trees of the 

 pine family, which are introduced, cultivated, 

 and highly prized by the lovers of trees. The 

 larches, native and foreign, are hardy, and in 

 Great Britain are extensively cultivated as a 

 timber tree. For our purpose it is to be 

 avoided, as it kills the bushes under it, and is 

 particularly favorable to the growth of the 

 grasses. If you are planting only for grandeur 

 of appearance, in the future, plant the cedar 

 of Lebanon. g. b. e. 



Boston, April, 1867. 



For the New England Farmer, 

 RAISING TURKEYS. 



The following suggestions from an experi- 

 ence of fifteen years in managing turkeys are 

 submitted to the readers of the New Eng- 

 land Farmer. 



Laying. 



Turkeys are shy in selecting a place to de- 

 posit their eggs ; frequently going from one- 

 half to three-fourths of a mile to find some 

 thicket or bush-heap, and exposing their eggs 

 to the depredations of skunks or crows ! they 

 having more skill than the owner in searching 

 them out. It takes less time to provide safe 

 places, and to train them to lay in these places, 

 than to hunt up their "stolen nests," to say 

 nothing of their exposure to the depi-edations 

 of mischievous animals. Take some enclosure 

 that can be spared during the time of laying 

 and hatching, and fix hiding places, in which 

 place a nest egg. Fasten the turkeys into 

 these enclosures a part of the day for three or 

 four days previous to laying. They will re- 

 construct the artificial nest, sitting a few min- 

 utes at each time for a day or two previous to 

 laying. After they have accepted these nests 

 and deposited the first egg, the work is done. 

 I have had from three to eight nests on a long 

 scaffold. 



Sitting. 



A turkey usually prepares her nest by 

 scratching away the ground so as to form a 

 scallop, which prevents any under circulation 

 of air. In our nest-making we should be 

 guided by the turkey's instincts and prefer- 

 ences. I usually underline with dry horse 

 manure, so that the underside of the egg shall 

 have the necessary warmth ; over which 1 place 



