41-1 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



Sept. 



sweet and milky a month before it is ripe, grda- 

 nally consolidates — the sugar changing into starch, 

 and the milk thickening into the gluten and albu- 

 men of the flour. As soon as this change is nearly 

 completed, or about a fortnight before it is ripe, 

 the grain of wheat contains the largest proportion 

 of starch and gluten. If reaped at this time, the 

 bushel will weigh most, owrf will yield the largest 

 quantity of fine flour and the least bran. 



At this period the grain has a thin skin, but if 

 left uncut, the next natural step in the ripening 

 process is to cover the grain with a better protec- 

 tion — a thicker skin. A portion of the starch of 

 the grain is changed into woody fibre, precisely as 

 in the ripening of hay. It is clear, therefore, that 

 the quantity of starch would be lessened, while 

 the thicker skin would give a larger weight of 

 bran or husk, and a decrease of flour. 



After going through many experimeiits in the 

 laboratory, in addition to facts gathered else where, 

 Johnston says that "theory and experience both 

 indicate about a fortnight before it is fully ripe as 

 the most proper time for cutting wheat. The 

 skin is then thinner and whiter, the grain fuller, 

 the bushel heavier, the yield of flour greater, its 

 color fairer, and the quantity of bran less ; while 

 at the same time, the straw is heavier, and con- 

 tains more soluble matter than when it is left un- 

 cut until it is considered to be fully ripe." 



It is said, also, that early cut oats are heavier 

 per bushel, fairer to the eye, and usually sell for 

 more money. A week before full ripeness, how- 

 ever, is the utmost that is recommended in the 

 case of oats. 



Barley cut in the striped state is also thinner in 

 the skin, sprouts quicker and more vigorously. 



There are one or two other things to be consid- 

 ered. Where it is intended to feed the straw of 

 these grains to cattle, the early cutting is still an- 

 other matter of importance. The straw, then, if 

 well cured and housed, is better than meadow 

 hay, and scarcely second to much of the English 

 hay. 



Early cutting also lets the sun in to the young 

 grass, and greatly aids its getting established so as 

 to resist the influence of the winter. 



A more careful attention to these matters would 

 result, we think, in a very considerable saving to 

 our farmers. 



NEW ENQIiAND AQ'L SOCIETY. 



The Premiutu List of the New England Agri- 

 cultural Society for their Seventh Annual Exhi- 

 bition to be held in the City of Manchester, N. H., 

 on the grounds of the Manchester Riding Park, 

 September 6-9, 1870, has been issued. Tire gen- 

 eral arrangement is about the same as last year. 

 The first premiums on cattle are the same now as 

 then, while the second and third are generally 

 reduced. There is also a marked reduction in 

 prizes offered for fat cattle and sheep, — a branch 

 of farming that it seems to us just now to deserve 



encouragement from the New England Agricultu- 

 ral Society. Very little attention we believe has 

 been given to the subject by the managers of agri- 

 cultural associations. The state of the meat mar- 

 ket and the impoverished condition of our soils, 

 suggest to our minds the expediency of drawing 

 out the experience of the few individual feeders 

 scattered over New England, who have been suc- 

 cessful in this business, and who would probably 

 respond to less premiums than are oflered to the 

 trainers of trotting horses. We are glad, however, 

 to notice that the fast horse is not quite as prom- 

 inent on the prize list as heretofore. Two years 

 ago the "Premiums for Trotting Horses" amounted 

 to $6,550 ; one year ago to #3550 ; while this year 

 only $2250 of the Society's funds are announced 

 as "Special Premiums for Trotting Horses." 



Any person who does not receive a copy other- 

 wise, can have one forwarded by mail on applica- 

 tion to Col. Needham of Boston, or Col. George 

 W. Riddle, of Manchester, N. H. 



Wool on the Pacific Coast. — W. Holly, Esq., 

 Secretary of the woolen Manufacturers Af sociation 

 of the South and West, while on a visit to California, 

 writes at San Francisco to the Western Rural that 

 the Pacific coast is a Paradise for wool growers 

 who uDQs>rstand their business. The extraordin- 

 ary yield of wool, and the rapid increase of stock, 

 without the expense of winter feeding or liability 

 to loss by disease, offer great inducements to capi- 

 tal and enterprib°. As compared with last year, 

 statistics show an increase of nearly 3,000,000 

 pounds, and the condition of the wool this year is 

 very much improved over that of former years. 

 The difference is fully 15 per cent., cleaner than 

 last year; the staple is good, strong, and healthy. 



On his way to California, Mr. Holly had a per- 

 sonal interview, at Salt Lake City, with Brigham 

 Young, who expressed great interest in the opera- 

 tions of the "Woolen Manufacturers' Association 

 of the West and South," and signified his inten- 

 tion to contribute samples of wool and specimens 

 of cloths manufactured at his mills, and also prom- 

 ised to encourage his people to follow his example. 

 There are seven woolen mills and two cotton mills 

 in Utah Territory. 



The amount of this year's clip of wool in Califor- 

 nia and Oregon is estimated at 19,830,000 pounds. 



The St. Albans, Vt., Bitter Market. — Mr. 

 0. S. Bliss, Secretary of the Vermont Dairymen's 

 Association, in a communication to the Country 

 Gentleman, says that there is no market associa- 

 tion or organization at St. Albans, but simply a 

 coming together of the people, originating chiefly 

 in the fact that the Vermont Central P^ailroad, 

 several years ago, adopted the plan of running 

 refrigerator cars for butter one day in a week from 

 St. Albans. Previous to that time most of the 

 butter was bought by agents who went about the 

 country from house to house, but as farmers were 



