268 



KEW ENGLAND FARilER. 



June 



eight hours is to suffice for a day's work ; the 

 leisure time of the son or grandson is spent 

 with some "Columbus" or other ungainly look- 

 ing specimen of the horse tribe hitched to a 

 skeleton vehicle in going the rounds of the 

 village race course. 



In view of this variegated picture, what 

 shall we do ? Like the busy bee let us seek 

 honey from every flower. Let the farmer 

 from practice build up a theory. Let him ex- 

 peiiment for himself. Economize his time 

 and means. Say unto the evil one, "get be- 

 hind me." Use his "time which is money," 

 in honest labor and useful recreation, asso- 

 ciating with h>-i neighbors for mutual improve- 

 ment, and so fulfil the whole law of "loving 

 your neighbor as yourself." As the city is 

 made up of various characters and equally 

 various occupations, so let our farms present 

 in harvest time a variegated hue, from the ma- 

 turing of numerous crops, instead of the 

 more modern notion of a single crop, or at 

 most two or three. Let rotation, so much 

 talked of and so poorly practiced, become a 

 principle in our farm management. And now 

 turn back to the commencement of this aiti- 

 cle, and decide what portion of the farm shall 

 be devoted to that noble crop, Indian corn. 



If by the above I shall induce some to 

 write out their views of farming, and thereby 

 keep up a lively discussion, the effort will not 

 be in vain. R. Mansfield. 



Wellesley, Mass., March 29, 1870. 



For the New England Farmer. 



THE FKDIT QAEDEIf. 



"Now Winter's reign is over, 

 Blithe Bpring once more 

 Will jjy restore." 



Yes, the long looked for season, the time 

 for enjoyment and for disappointment to the 

 amateur gardener, has come. 



Very few things afford more innocent and 

 useful enjoyment than the study of the laws 

 by which nature su. tains and controls her pro- 

 ductions, and gives to man whatever is both 

 pleasant and profitable to look upon and to 

 enjoy ; and particularly is this the case when 

 pleasure and profit is sought in the garden by 

 conforming to the requirements of each plant 

 cultivated in order to their perfection in beauty, 

 productiveness and utility. 



As a rest from the intensity of application 

 to business by village mechanics, merchants 

 and professional men who can afford suburban 

 residences, what can be more interesting and 

 profitable than a fruit garden ? To consider 

 the appearances and uses of fruits — the plants 

 that bear them, the culture necessary to pro- 

 duce them in perfection, — and to partake of 

 them as food for the body, cannot fail to im- 

 prove the mind, calm painful or passionate 

 feelings, or nervous irritability, and recruit 

 bodily strength. 



The pleasures of conviviality which are re- 

 sorted to by so many of the above-named per- 

 sons may have some good influence when mod- 

 erately indulged in, but they are generally had 

 at the expense of health and happiness, be- 

 cause they easily lead to extravagant expen- 

 diture and involve body and estate in ruin ; 

 and at best, they fail to improve the mind and 

 increase good taste and love of natural beauty. 

 They seldom, if ever, soothe the feverish and 

 excited system, nor do they give that prepa- 

 ration for healthy repose and sleep which the 

 over-taxed body and mind require, and which 

 is sure to follow the innocent and pleasurable 

 employment of the faculties in observation 

 and gentle labor in planting, cultivating and 

 harvesting the productions of nature in the 

 garden. 



Men differ in their taste and in their capa- 

 city to enjoy any one of the many things by 

 which innocent pleasure may be secured, and 

 all have a moral right to choose for them- 

 selves. What we want to impress on the 

 mind of the reader is the idea that individual 

 or family employment in the fruit garden is 

 soon found to invigorate the nervous system, 

 charm and soothe the mind, increase good 

 t?.ste and love of beauty, and to prepare the 

 body for that repose which is necessary for 

 those who are active and persistent in their 

 business. 



It may not be generally known, yet is none 

 the less true, that to professional men, worn 

 out by close application of their minds, we are 

 indebted for discoveries and improvements in 

 horticulture. They sought health in caring 

 for the growth, perfection and fruiting of 

 some plants or trees ; they became interested, 

 and being men of improved minds, they were 

 observing ; they sought a knowledge of the 

 conditions or requirements necessary to the 

 perfection of some plant or its fruit, and when 

 found, they adapted their labor and care to 

 the end desired. Improvements followed, and 

 we have the benefit of enjoying what their la- 

 bors have contributed to our advantage, and 

 may profit by their example. 



Information necessary to begin gardening 

 and to continue it successfully is so plenty 

 that "he who runs may read," What should 

 we read? you a^k. If you have time, read a 

 book on fruit culture ; before you buy one 

 consult some reading, yet practical gardener. 

 By so doing, you will be spared the disap- 

 pointment that is sure to follow labor per- 

 formed in ignorance of varieties of fruit, suit- 

 able soil, proper planting and cultivation, the 

 influence of climate on the plants and fruit, 

 and the times and manner of harvesting and 

 securing in the best condition for future use 

 the results of your healthful and gratifying 

 employment. 



If you plant for pecuniary profit, be very 

 careful what you plant. Many fruits truth- 

 fully called the best in one State of the Union, 

 may not be so in another, and a fruit of medium 



