1867. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



477 



tained from local papers and dealers, that as- 

 certained the several amounts, partly by finding 

 out the amount sent off by canal and railroad, 

 and partly by dealers comparing notes of pur- 

 chases and sales in different places — and prob- 

 ably as correct as the census. I say this data 

 renders it very probable that the most if not 

 all of the above increase was realized in some 

 eight counties in Western New York. The 

 amount returned for these counties — $1,566,- 

 388 — ^eing over 42 per cent, of all produced 

 in the State in 1859. The same data also 

 shows that there has not only been a large av- 

 erage increase over the amount returned by 

 the last United States census, but as the price 

 has largely increased, there has also been a 

 great increase in the amount of money re- 

 ceived. As* for instance, it has been pretty 

 reliably ascertained that in 1863 the amount 

 received in Orleans county for apples, was not 

 far from $500,000, the crop being very large 

 and the price averaging nearly two dollars a 

 barrel. While in 1865, when the price went 

 up to five dollars, it was found that some 

 $700,000 was paid to the farmers of this county 

 for apples. In I860 the Rochester Democrat 

 sent reporters to all of the markets in Monroe 

 to ascertain the amount of apples sold in that 

 county. The conclusion reached by this in- 

 vestigation was, that "the entire crop of Mon- 

 roe county for the past year (1863) has prob- 

 ably reached a value of not less than $1,000,- 

 000." As the price has been so much higher 

 for the last two years, there has probably been 

 one or more years, that the value of the apple 

 crop greatly exceeded this amount ; but how 

 much I have not been able to ascertain. But 

 enough is known to show that the apple crop 

 of the eight counties referred to, has reached 

 a value at least three times as great as the 

 amount returned by the last United States 

 census ; or from four and a half to five mil- 

 lions of dollars a year. 



Now this is a greater income and profit from 

 fruit, it is believed, than was ever before real- 

 ized on the same investment of lal)or and cap- 

 ital. For the principal part of this great 

 amount, is for fruit grown on the common 

 farm orchards, set and kept for farm use. and 

 with little idea of growing apples for market. 

 Yet in this county, which is small, having only 

 nine towns, the crop of apples must average 

 between $250 and $300 to each farm, while 

 numerous cases might be given where sales 

 range from $500 to $3000 in a single year. 



Western New York, 1867. f. 



For the Kew England Farmer. 

 THE GARDEN" FOR SEPTEMBER. 



The gardener's labors are constantly vary- 

 ing from February to December ; but this suc- 

 cession by no means dispenses with the necessi- 

 ty of labor and watchfulness. You may recol- 

 lect the story of the result arising from "the 

 want of a pin in the bars" ; of equal impor- 



tance is it that there be no want of a pin to 

 admit of the bars being let down in the gai'den 

 operations ; as a single want, or neglect, may 

 be the means of a failure in some important crop. 

 September work of the garden consists main- 

 ly in gathering, storing, or marketing, &c. 

 Much good judgment and energy are called 

 into action in order to enable us to reap maxi- 

 mum profits. Much also may be done toward 

 forwarding another year's crops, in prepara- 

 tion. Considerable of the spring labor with 

 hot beds may be saved by starting many of the 

 plants most in demand in spring, during this 

 month, and pricking them out into cold frames 

 when well started ; or they may remain and be 

 covered with leaves, boards, &c., for winter 

 protection. They will thus be found ready to 

 transplant and grow, as soon as the frost leaves 

 the ground in spring, and it is fit for culture. 

 The beds to start such plants in should be 

 made in a warm, moist location, and plenty of 

 moisture may be found almost anyAvhere this 

 season, so far. They should be well forked 

 over, mixing in a good coat of well rotted ma- 

 nure, and the surface thoroughly fined with 

 the steel rake-:— no danger of getting it too fine ; 

 then sow your seed in drills about six inches 

 apart, if to be covered in with a cold frame ; 

 a foot apart, if to remain in the open ground 

 and covered with mulch, &c. If the plants 

 are likely to get large, transplant to check 

 growth ; as too much fall growth will tend to 

 cause them to run up to seed in the spring. 

 Cabbage, lettuce, onions, spinach, &e., may 

 be started in this way and be ready for early 

 spring with little trouble. 



Beans. — Gather and put in a dry place as 

 fast as they ripen ; when well dry, shell and 

 put away in boxes, after spreading and drying. 

 Label those for seed with variety and date of 

 growth. Lima beans not ripe, if picked and 

 ciried before frosts, make a very acceptable 

 dish for the table in winter. 



Blackberries. — Cut out the old canes and 

 the weaker young shoots, leaving one or two 

 of the strongest for next year's fruiting. 



Celery. — Earth up the advancing crop, 

 when dry ; being careful to close the leaves to- 

 gether so, that no dirt will get in the centre. 

 Be careful not to cover the centre bud or get 

 any dirt in it. 



Cauliflowers. — See that they do not get 

 too far advanced before gathering, as, also, 

 broccoli. 



Corn. — The earliest ripe ears should be 

 saved for seed for future use. Braid them up 

 in tresses, by the husks, and hang in an airy, 

 dry place. 



CucuJiBERS. — Pick every day for pickle, 

 and put down in salt in a suitable tub or cask ; 

 putting a sprinkling of salt and then a layer of 

 pickles, and so on till full ; the pickles will 

 furnish juice sufficient for brine. Properly 

 salted and stored they will keep two or three 

 years, and furnish good pickles, after soaking 

 and freshening ; an operation which will re- 



