1867. 



NEW ENGLAND FARI^IER. 



389 



four or five weeks old, very commendatory 

 to the breed, ranging from 150 to over 200 

 pounds. 



There are a few yearling half-bloods, sired 

 by a bull from W. Birney's herd, that are very 

 "likely ;" one man having two of them, a bull 

 and heifer that run together last fall, and the 

 heifer is to "come in" the fore part of August. 

 The "Birney" bull became imbecile or ineffi- 

 cient very soon after he was obtained. With- 

 out any known cause, his sheath became 

 inflamed, and after a few weeks yard and 

 sheath grew together, so as to prevent his use- 

 fulness, and he was sold to go to Brighton for 

 beef. Who ever knew a like case ? Bos. 



Randolph, Vt., June, 1867. 



For the New England Farmer. 

 NOTES ON" THE CONNECTICUT VAL- 

 LEY.— No. n. 

 Haying— Baising Sorghum. 



In securing the hay crop, the mowing ma- 

 chine and horse rake are in general use in this 

 valley, and a very few tedders, as those that 

 have been introduced soon get out of order. 

 This is a very serious objection to all that I 

 have as yet seen. More durable machines 

 must be got up in order to secure their general 

 introduction. It will never do for a farmer to 

 depend upon any machine that is likely to fail 

 him at the time most needed. The Buckeye 

 mower is the favorite, although it has several 

 competitors that seem to be gaining favor of 

 late. The Hubbard and Monitor being the 

 most prominent. I have been quite sanguine 

 that important improvements would be made 

 in mowers, and my expectations bid fair to be 

 realized. A machine was tried late last season 

 that appears to have distanced all rival com- 

 petitors, if I can credit reports that reach me 

 from the scene of its operations. It is invented 

 by Mr. Perry, the town clerk of Kingston, 

 R. I., and is to be manufactured by Ames & 

 Co., of Boston. I will not specify its pro- 

 fessed merits, as I have no doubt that will be 

 faithfully attended to by those interested in 

 its introduction. 



I have not seen in all this region a hay cap 

 in use. This was really astonishing to me, as 

 I had been accustomed to see them in so com- 

 mon use in Massachusetts. For the past five 

 or six years the expense of material has been 

 . a serious obstacle to their more general use in 

 all parts of our country. 



Sorghum has to some extent been cultivated 

 in this vicinity. It appears to be gaining favor 

 with those who have grown it. Some are very 

 sanguine of success, — having substituted it for 

 tobacco. When it gets an early start in the 

 spring, it is comparatively secure from frost ; 

 failing of this, frost is quite sure to injure it. 

 A sample sent me, made from frosted cane, is 

 a very poor substitute for molasses. Its color 

 is bad, and its flavor still worse. Another 

 eample, from that not frozen, was very good 



in color and flavor. It was not, however, boiled 

 sufficiently to give it as heavy body as most 

 would desire. The yield has been about two 

 hundred gallons to the acre, in some cases 

 even three hundred — do not think it is usually 

 so productive. The leaves are stripped from 

 the stalk for feeding cattle ; said to be good 

 for that purpose. Mills for grinding it, and 

 pans for evaporating the syrup are manufac- 

 tured in Hartford, which are said to be the 

 best in use. 



Much experience, I think, will be necessary 

 to enable the cultivator to determine the proper 

 time to plant and gather this crop, and the 

 manufacturer to make a proper use of it when 

 it comes into his hands. 1 make these sug- 

 gestions because I have seen sorghum syrup at 

 the west, that in my judgment was ecjual to 

 syrup of any kind I ever tasted. I cannot see 

 any good reasons why it should not succeed 

 here as well as there. It will grow anywhere 

 that corn will. Sandy loam is considered the 

 best soil for it, as it does not yield so much 

 saccharine matter when grown on clay soils. 



One-half of the syrup, or fifty cents a gal- 

 lon, is the present rate for manufacturing, and 

 is a good business while it lasts. These 

 charges cannot of course continue if the crop 

 is extensively produced. It readily amalga- 

 mates with both corn and broom corn. This 

 impaiifs its value materially. It should not be 

 planted near either of them. I hope soon to 

 see our New England farmers producing their 

 .own sweetening. There is no good reason 

 why they should not. The beet, if not the 

 sorghum, can be raised successfully, and of 

 superior quality to the European for sugar. 



East Windsor, Ct., 1867. K. O. 



THE PROPER TIME AND MODE FOR 

 CUTTING FLOWERS. 



Never cut flowers during the intense sun- 

 shine, nor keep them exposed to the sun or 

 wind ; do not collect them in large bundles, 

 nor tie them tightly together, as this hastens 

 their decay. Do not pull them, but cut them 

 cleanly off the plant with a sharp knife, not 

 with a pair of scissors. When taken indoors, 

 place them in the shade, and reduce them to 

 the required length of stock with a sharp knife, 

 by which means the tubes through which they 

 draw up the water are left open, and the wa- 

 ter is permitted to ascend freely, whereas if 

 the stems are bruised or lacerated, these pores 

 are closed up. Use pure water to set them in, 

 or pure white sand in a state of saturation, 

 sticking the ends of the stalk in it, but not in 

 a crowded manner. If in water alone, it ought 

 to be changed daily, and a thin slice should be 

 cut off the ends of the stalks at every change 

 of water. Water about milk-warm, or con- 

 taining a small quantity of camphor dissolved 

 in spirits of wine, will often revive flowers that 

 have begun to fade. Place a glass shade over 

 them during the night, or indeed at all such 



