1867. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



553 



pend for a supply of this necessary of life, 

 upon any one country. 



This would give to that country an undue 

 influence. Before the late war, the cotton 

 States believed that bread riots would occur in 

 the manufacturing cities of the North and in 

 England upon the stoppage of the supply of 

 cotton, and thus they would be compelled to 

 accede to their demands. It Is not desirable 

 for the Southern people themselves that they 

 should be so extensively devoted to the culture 

 of one crop. It will be much better for them 

 to raise a variety of crops, and thus secure 

 for themselves an abundant supply of the ne- 

 cessaries of life. This course would tend not 

 only to equalize property, but to increase civil- 

 ization and intelligence. 



The fruit crop in New England is somewhat 

 less than the luxuriant blossom encouraged us 

 to hope for. Still, there are apples for home 

 consumption, although but few for exportation. 

 . The continued moisture of August caused 

 the squashes and potatoes to yield a larger 

 crop of vines than fruit. These crops are 

 small, and generally of poor quality. 



The grapes, being later than usual, were 

 overtaken by the early frosts, a misfortune to 

 which the cultivators of the grape in this cli- 

 mate will be occasionally liable, unless they 

 can find a variety that ripens earlier than any 

 we yet have. 



The health of the entire country, with the 

 exception of a few places on the lower Missis- 

 sippi, and in the extreme South-West, has been 

 remarkably good. Not even the common 

 autumnal fever and dysentery have prevailed 

 to any extent. 



On the whole, looking at the whole country, 

 our people have great reason to be thankful to 

 the Giver of all good things, for the rich sup- 

 plies bestowed upon us, for the wants of both 

 man and beast. 



Our Saxon ancestors called November Blot 

 moneth. Blood month, because on that month, 

 the animals were slaughtered and salted for 

 winter use, and some were offered in sacrifice 

 to their Pagan divinities. This usage has 

 been handed down from them to us. The 

 farmers now kill their beeves and swine, and 

 store them for winter, and our feast of thanks- 

 giving occurs on this month. The herbage is 

 no longer green, and the animals have ceased 

 to grow and fatten, and can no longer live and 



thrive without being fed and sheltered by man. 

 He now brings them to the slaughter, and 

 stores them up for future use, and it is both 

 i.atural and proper, that he should rejoice over 

 the fruits of his labor, and offer sacrifices of 

 praise and thanksgiving to the Giver of all 

 his blessings— the Father of all his mercies. 



Although there are clouds in our political 

 horizon, and difficulties to be encountered be- 

 fore the country is fully restored to peace and 

 prosperity, we can rejoice for what has already 

 been accomplished, and we will trust in'that 

 guidance that has carried us through the trials 

 and struggles of the past. 



FARMERS' GARDENS. 



The Germanlown Tehgrapli says: — "We 

 can see an improvement In the gardens of our 

 farmers within the last half dozen years. For 

 years we have endeavored to convince the 

 general farmer of the necessity and advantage 

 of providing larger gardens tor their families, 

 and of devoting moie attention to their culti- 

 vation. They should raise tv\o or three times 

 as many vegetables as most of them now do, 

 and they must have thf m earlier. They must 

 not be satisfied with two or three messes of 

 beans, peas, sweet corn, &c. ; but they must 

 enjoy the m daily for weeks. We do all we 

 can to point out the best sorts of vegetatles 

 and when to plant them. There should be at 

 least three plantings of peas, four cf corn; 

 string beans all the time, lima beans for sum- 

 mer and winter, early c ibbage, beets, lettuce, 

 &c., as long as they will possibly last. An 

 early crop of turnips should be put in, not less 

 than three or four stalks of celery, and any 

 amount of winter cabbage. 



Care of Highways. — The greatest im- 

 provement that can be made on our common 

 roads at the least expense, is to keep the loose 

 stone from obstructing the travel on them. 

 Tbis should be the first, the last and interme- 

 diate duty of him who has <he charge of the 

 hichvvay. Another Important duty that re- 

 quires careful attention, Is to keep the sluices 

 and ditches open, and In condition so as to 

 prevent the water from taking Its course in the 

 middle of the road, and thus doing much dam- 

 age that a very little cost and labor might have 

 prevented. 



Cost of Macadam Road. — By a careful ex- 

 periment made In the summer of 1854, it was 

 ascertained that to quarry out and break a 

 good quality of sandstone lying within wheel- 

 ing distance of the track, and to give a coating 

 ten inches deep and eight feet wide, costs less 

 than to lay the same with plank and sills when 

 lumber is delivered at $G per thousand feet. 



