1867. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



519 



of frost. The frost on the morning of the 15th 

 inst., killed vines and other tender plants, but 

 did but little injury otherwise. Wheat, rye, 

 oats and barley, have made a heavy growth of 

 straw, but not above the average of kernel. 

 Fields newly seeded to gra'-s look finely — hav- 

 ing set thick and strong. Eai ly varieties of 

 potatoes are routing badly, but 1 think the crop 

 of later varietiis will be very good. B«'ans 

 and pea-^ hive bla-^ted badly, and the crop here 

 niu^t l)e very light. The hay and English 

 grains have been well secured. 



The time has come when farming pays. 

 The long mooted (juestion needs no further 

 argument. ISo long as hay shall bring from 

 $21) to $;30 per ton, beef $8 to $10 on the 

 hoof, and corn, rye, wheat, oats, barley and 

 potatoes, all kinds of fruit and garden vegeta- 

 V)les, with butter and cheese, remain at ruling 

 prices, ihere can be no safer or better business 

 than farming. I^. L. P. 



East Japetj, N. //., Sept. 23, 1867. 



Remarks. — We wish to call attention to the 

 remarks of our correspondent in relation to 

 the importance of mulching fruit trees, in con- 

 nection with the practice of Capt. Pierce, of 

 Arlington, Mass., detailed in another column. 



I 



For the New England Farmer. 

 THE GARDEN" IN OCTOBER. 



The tiifie for cessation of active labor in 

 the garden for the season is near at hand, and 

 maj be suddenly terminated, so far as to its 

 furnishing fresh vegetables, &c. Owing to 

 the excessively wet and unusually cool and 

 damp season, our garden has not given the 

 satisfaction in respect to some kinds of vege- 

 tables and fruits we hoped for when we planted 

 in the spring ; yet, on the whole, we have little 

 to complain of. What though the squash falls 

 short of the usual abundant supply, or the 

 plum and cherry failed, or a few grapes were 

 belated in ripening, have we not a good supply 

 of most other vegetables, and the different 

 varieties of small fruits, sufficient for present 

 use, and a supply laid away for winter.^ 



Besides gathering and properly storing such 

 of the crops as cannot be used or marketed 

 before hard frosts, there is much that may be 

 done to enhance another year's profit. Let 

 us then keep good heart and go at it with a 

 ■will, endeavoring to remedy any failures of 

 the present season. Unquestionably, by su- 

 perior watchfulness, and better, and more 

 thorough preparation and culture, much of the 

 want of success in a bad season might be over- 

 come. Heavy soils may be much ameliorated 

 by fall ploughing, throwing into ridges so that 

 the frosts, &c. , of a winter's season may act 

 to pulverize and fine them. Perhaps some 

 portions of the garden may need underdrain- 

 mg ; the heavy rains and great amount of 

 waterfall of the past season, will have shown 



any portions where drainage is necessary. If 

 possible to carry off any surplus water by 

 drains, let it be done this fall, without risking 

 the results of another year. The good effects 

 of manure are not fully received when the soil 

 is saturated with water, neither will plants 

 grow as freely when the soil is wet or water 

 comes near the surface. The evaporation 

 which is constantly going on f'-om a wet soil, 

 tends to lower the teinpeiMliire and retard 

 growth. Wet ground cannot be worked as 

 early in the spring, and is sooner affected 

 by frosts in the fall, than dry. Continue the 

 work described for September ; some of which 

 is equally applicable to October. 



AspAR.vGUS — If new beds are desired, and 

 plants are at hand, they may now be made. 

 The best results are had where the ground is 

 worked deep, and irell filled with manure. 

 Set the plants three incher below the surface, 

 not less than one foot apart each way. Old 

 beds may have the tops cut off and cleared, 

 and a liberal coat of coarse manure spread 

 over the bed the last of the month, or before 

 the ground free/'.s hard in November 



Beets — Pull at the approach of frost, and 

 cut off the tops, not too clo^e. and dry a little 

 in the sun, then place them in the cellar and 

 pack in sand or earth to keep them fresh and 

 good for winter. 



Blackberries. — Muck, leaf mold, or well 

 decomposed composted manure can be applied 

 to the soil around the roots to advantage, and 

 will increase the fruitfulness of another season. 



Currants and Gooseberries. — Now is the 

 time to make cuttings and plant to increase the 

 plantations. Select well ripened wood of the 

 last growth, and cut them about a foot long, 

 and if you wish to grow them in tree form, 

 cut out, with a sharp knife, all the eyes except 

 two or three at the top, and set them in the 

 ground even, with the lower eye left on ; fill 

 in and press the soil closely around the lower 

 end, as upon the thoroughness of this in a 

 great measure depends the success of growing 

 cuttings of any kind. If a bush form is de- 

 sired instead, the buds may be left on. Cut 

 square off close below a bud in making cut- 

 tings. After planting, cover with a coat of 

 leaves or the like. 



Cabbage. — Plants sown this fall for early 

 spring planting, may be transplanted into cold 

 frames. Set them deep, down to their leaves 

 in the soil, as the stem is the most tender part ; 

 set thus, and watered, they will need no out- 

 side covering till near the end of November. 

 The late heading kinds may be left till hard 

 frosts, without injury, before gathering. 



Carrots. — Harvest before severe frosts, as 

 they are rather sensitive to cold, and preserve 

 as directed for beets. The tops may be fed to 

 cows or other stock with advantage. 



Herbs. — Gather and preserve such as have 

 not already been gathered. 



Mushrooms. — This is a production of grow- 

 ing importance in certain localities ; being 



