382 



NEW ENGLAKD FARMER. 



Aug. 



run stiff and strong over tlie road. When the 

 wheels struck a stone the wheel oxen would be 

 jerked to one side or the other, so that there was 

 a continual wiggle with wagon and team. The 

 roads were bad, and altogether it was a considera- 

 ble of a job to get eight dollars, all that the whole 

 load brought." 



In conversation with another farmer the other 

 day, he said "there had been no improvement in 

 the plough for the last forty years," although he 

 ploughs two acres now with a pair of horses, in 

 about the same time that he ploughed one acre, 

 forty years ago, and does the work much better. 

 There certainly is truth in the old adage, that 

 "There are none so blind as those who won't see." 



Epping, N. H. Faemees' Club. — In a note ac- 

 companying the abstract of his address, published 

 on another page, Mr. Harvey says that the North 

 River District is the nucleus of this flourish- 

 ing association, and is, perhaps, the most wealthy 

 and energetic agricultural portion of the town. 

 The owners of these well cultivated farms, and of 

 the fine buildings which stand upon them, are, 

 without any exception, holders of government 

 bonds, and other evidences of invested capital, all 

 accumulated by themselves or their predecessors 

 by farming; and yet some of these men join in 

 the common assertion that "nothing can be made 

 at farming!" To the progressive and believing 

 /armer the growing interest in farmers' clubs, and 

 the increasing readiness of the conductors of the 

 local public press to publish agricultural matter, 

 is most encouraging and hopeful. Though farm- 

 ers are busy with hard work at this season, they 

 will obsei've and note facts which may be used 

 next winter when they meet with their neighbors 

 to talk over matters connected with their business. 

 Those who attended such meetings last winter, 

 will perhaps be surprised by the frequency with 

 which they will be reminded, while at work, of 

 something that was then said, or of something 

 that might have been said, at those discussions. 

 In quickening the power, or improving the habit 

 of observation, one of the most valuable results of 

 farmers' clubs will be experienced by every mem- 

 ber. 



Tomato Fly, not Woem, PoisoNOfs.— S. 

 Hayncs, M. D., of Saranac, N. Y., details in the 

 Plattsburg Sentinel the particulars of the poisoning 

 of one of his patients by a green fly. The insect 

 has a long bill and legs something like a mosquito. 

 He was handling over some tomatoes that he had 

 just gathered, when feeling pain in his foretinger 

 he brushed ofl" a fly. The pain continuing, he 

 soaked the finger in kerosene and in turpentine, 

 which gave relief. On handling the tomatoes 

 again, he saw the same or a similar fly alight on 

 his thumb, and he watched its operation. He 

 says, "the part where the bill was planted began 

 to burn and feel very disagreeable, and ishooting 

 pains extended up the arm, and finally the thumb 



swelled as large as three or four thumbs, and the 

 swelling extended to the whole hand and arm and 

 glands in the hollow of the arm, and finally, the 

 pain extended to the head, particularly on the 

 side of the injured thumb, and the side of the body 

 became affected." After twenty-one days he had 

 not fully recovered. 



Dr. Haynes believes the stories of the poisonous 

 effects of the tomato worm to be founded on facts ; 

 but that this fly, and not the worm, is the fact to 

 be guarded against. The experience and observa- 

 tion of others are solicited. 



The AoRicuLTrEAL Hoese Teot a Peece- 

 DEXT. — In the discussion in the Massachusetts 

 House of Representatives on the Govornor's veto 

 of a bill to legalize horse-racing, Mr. Woodbury 

 urged that it was unfair that tracks near the city of 

 Boston should not be allowed to offer prizes for 

 trotting horses as well as the little tracks in the 

 interior of the State. Mr. Sweetser, of Lowell was 

 still more explicit. He said that "the same thing 

 which this bill sought to legalize, was already 

 done under the cover of law by agricultural socie- 

 ties. Purses were nominally offered by the socie- 

 ties, but were really made up by the men who en- 

 tered their horses." It is certainly a little curious 

 that the presence of a few bulls, cows, sheep and 

 pigs, should legalize prizes and purses, betting and 

 gambling on Fair grounds in the country, which 

 are considered detrimental to public morals at the 

 race courses near the city. This distinction, how- 

 ever, is a compliment to the managers of agricul- 

 tural fair grounds. The law allows them to do 

 what it forbids being done by jockeys. Hence» 

 for the savor of respectability, our law-abiding cit- 

 izens hold agricultural "meetings" and "fairs" in- 

 stead of "horse races," and multitudes attend the 

 "Show" to see the "Race." 



Cement Water Pipe. — The injurious effects of 

 lead on water has caused much inquiry for some 

 practical substitute for this metal in condueting 

 water, intended for domestic purposes. Mr. N. 

 Reed of Duchess County, N. Y., writes to the 

 Country Gentleman that hydraulic cement is ex- 

 tensively used in his section, and is preferred on 

 account of its freedom from all poisonous effects, 

 its durability, cheapness, &c., to lead, iron or wood. 

 An inch and a quarter pipe was laid from a spring 

 to his buildings a distance of 120 rods for .^'144 for 

 the pipe, — less than seven and a half cents a foot, — 

 the whole cost of digging, covering, and including 

 some iron and lead pipe, &c. for pentstocks, &c., 

 was $238. He says its durability must be indefi- 

 nite, as it grows harder for several years, till it be- 

 comes as solid as stone ; but if broken by accident 

 it is easily mended. The best Roscndale lime 

 should be used, and the work should be done by 

 one who understands the business. 



—Minnesota has 6G,000 less sheep than it had 

 two years ago. 



