1867. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



671 



ing the seductions of the gaming table or the 

 immoralities of the degenerate American turf." 

 We heartily endorse his remark that "unless 

 this can be done on the tracks at our Fairs, 

 they had much better be dispensed with alto- 

 gether." But we cannot agree wiih him when 

 he speaks of the English system of racing as a 

 model for this country, and of its adoption 

 here as likely to remedy the objections to this 

 feature of our Fairs. We are surprised by 

 his remark that 



"The English system has not the exciteme^it which 

 attends tluit now in vogue among u s ;" but that "the 

 annual trials of speed have l>een attended by every- 

 body, from the King or Queen, to the peasant; 

 from the archbishop to the humblest layman ; by 

 all conditions and both sexes ; and yet we hear 

 nothing of the demoralization of that nation wnose 

 chief pastime this is." 



To those who have heard nothing of the de- 

 moralizing effects of that popular pastime upon 

 the people of England, we commend the follow- 

 ing earnest words of Tom Hughes, Esq., re- 

 cently addressed to the New York Tribune : — 



"Of all the cankers of our old civilization, there 

 is nothing in this country approaching in un- 

 blushing meanness, in rascality holding its head 

 high, to this belauded institution of tlic British 

 Turf. It is quite true thrt a very considerable 

 section of our aristocracy is on the tnrf, but with 

 what result ? Shall a man touch pitch and not be 

 defiled ? There is not a man of them whose posi- 

 tion and character has not been lowered by the 

 connection, while in the majority it ends in bring- 

 ing down their standard of morality to that of the 

 blacklegs, and delivering over their estates into 

 the grasp of Jew attorneys. 



The last notable instance among our jeunesse 

 doree, is that of the Duke of Hamilton, who suc- 

 ceeded to a clear £70,000 a year, some three years 

 ago, and who is now a pensioner of his creditors 

 in the ring, while the old palace of the Douglass 

 is at the order and disposition of the celebrated 

 Mr. Padwick. This gentleman at his Derby din- 

 ner this year entertamcd three dukes, two mar- 

 quises and six earls, and I believe there was only 

 one untitled man at the board. All of these under 

 the thuml), or anxious to cultivate the esteemed 

 favors of this 'giver of all good things.' 



Just consider for a moment what our modem 

 system of betting has Ijrought us to. A reliable 

 tip is that which the most scrupulous young gen- 

 tleman on the turf desires, above all other earthly 

 blessings, before a great race ; that is to say, some 

 reliable information which may enable him to 

 overreach his dearest friend or his own brother, if 

 he can induce him to take the odds." 



Caxker Worms. — From imperfectly under- 

 stood causes, Canker Worms were not as de- 

 structive the past season as usual. It is not 

 safe, however, to presume that this pest is 

 passing away. In almost every orchard 

 which was infested by canker worms last year, 

 there were more or less seen the past season, 

 and in some they were nearly as destructive as 



ever. As the grubs commence their ascent in 

 the fall, usually after the first severe frosts, it 

 is now time to look to the trees, and to com- 

 mence defensive operations. That orchards 

 can be saved from the ravages of the can- 

 ker worms has been demonstrated by many in- 

 stances of success, in the faithful application 

 of tar and other means of protection, that 

 have been published in our columns. The 

 best time to lock the stable is before the horse 

 is stolen. 



THE INDIAN SUMMER. 



See across the smiling viillf-y, 

 Where the yellow eorn-tields stand 



Fruitful with ilie r( d mun's blessing, 

 Rise the mountains tall and grand, 



With their cloudy purple summit 

 Gazing far across the land. 



Seem they Ike groat chiefs in council, 

 Stern and thoughtful every one; 



Like a big eye, downward peering. 

 Through the cloud-rifts looks the eon 



On the broad vale, fair and shinicg, 

 Where the silver rivers run. 



There the smoke of many wigwams 



Like a soft haze hovers blue; 

 There beside the lisping river 



Safe is moored the birch canoe. 

 That with light stroke, quick and steady, 



Glides the waters through. 



Hither comes the dry-voiced-robin, 

 With the sunset on his breast, 



Dee; est dye of happy crimson. 

 Borrowed from th ■■ glowing west, 



That with flaming color kindles 

 When the great sun sinks to rest. 



Yonder see the forest monarch. 



See the uak-tree burning red. 

 Like a warrior in his war paint. 



Lifting high his fearless head, 

 With his tall crown plumed with feathers, 



And his giant arms outspread 



See the beech-trees gathering russet 

 By th'' shaoy woodland stream; 



Like the young men of our people, 

 feuppl , hard, and strong they seem, 



Like my warrior, my true lover, 

 Beautiful as any dream. 



See the maples, bright and golden. 

 Like the gay queens of our race; 



And the young ash, tall and slender, 

 Bending lightly in its place. 



Like a youthful Indian maiden, 

 Full of beauty and of grace. 



Yonder on the sloping hill side, 



Misty with the floating seeds. 

 In the wind likn gay plumes nodding, 



See the yellow golden reeds ; 

 See the sumai-h's tiery berries 



Shine like strings of golden beads. 



Soon will come the sand wind, sobbing 

 In these leaves of gold and red, 



Like the sound of mingled voices 

 Mourning for a spirit fled, 



Voices raised in lamentation 

 When a mighty chief is dead. 



Soon will come the pattering rain-drops, 

 Slowly falling, chill and damp, 



Like the tread i.f stealthy footsteps. 

 Like the dull and mufded tramp, 



When our warriors, for the war-path, 

 File from out tfaeii silent camp. 



