1870. 



NEW ENGLAND FAEJ^IER. 



463 



four tbree-year-olds, three yearlings, and six 

 calves, as fine looking as any equal number that 

 can be found. A yearling bull out of the celebrated 

 "Cavalier," of Thorndale stock notoriety, bred by 

 J. A. Harwood, Littleton, Mass., was particularly 

 attractive. "John" has received several premiums 

 at our county fairs; but this neither flitters nor 

 satisfies hiib, as he is still enlarging and improv- 

 ing his herd. 



His swine, too, are selected with reference to the 

 same grtat principle, improvement. He has now 

 a very (ire specimen of a hog in the shape of a 

 Suffolk boar. Nor does he stop here. His poultry 

 is selected from among the best and most ap- 

 proveel breeds in the country. 



We do not know of another man who raises so 

 large a quantity and so many varieties of apples, 

 pears, plums, cherries and grapes as is produced 

 on this farm. A Visitor. 



EaU Wallingford, Vt., August 2, 1870. 



CEOPS AND SEASON IN MERKIMAC COUNTY, N. H. 



As you appear to have reports of the crops, sea- 

 son, &c., in your valuable paper from almost 

 every locality" in New England, I concluded to 

 give you* a brief account of them from this point. 



It is perhaps a little early to give a definite idea 

 of some of the crops. Our hay is harvested in 

 good condition. Though a great deal less than the 

 three preceding years, and considerable less than 

 an average crop, it is of excellent quality. The 

 grain, as a whole, will be more than an average 

 yield, though uneven on account of the diff"(;rence 

 of the dryness of the soil and time of sowing. 

 The corn crop'is yet undecided in consequence of 

 the drought. It has a good growth, but looks 

 DOW as though it might be seriously afifected on 

 light, sandy land, if not a total failure in some in- 

 stances. Early potatoes are very light, and late- 

 planted ones will be much lighter if we do not 

 have rain, though undoubtedly we shall in time to 

 save many fields. Apples at this writing promise 

 an abundant crop. 



In regard to the season, we have had a very re- 

 markable one as regards the heat and drought. 

 Since June came in we have had it excessively h 

 as well as dry, the mercury ranging, with the ex- 

 ception of June 21 and 22, from the eighties to one 

 hundred in the shade. Apples that" have fallen 

 upon the ground are apparently baked. At this 

 time, as you pass through our section of the 

 country, and see spring grain a portion of it fit to 

 harvest, the corn-stalks fully grown, and apples 

 most as large as at harvesting time, it really ap- 

 pears like August instead of July. In fact, the 

 heat and drought have so matured the crops and 

 vegetation that it has been a sort of hot-house 

 growth, and we have had nothing equal to it in 

 the last forty years. b. f. c. 



Northfield, N. H., July 28, 1870. 



A XOOK AND A THOUGHT. 



Nature teaches the observing. Walking about 

 ou the 30th of July, there was an opportunity for 

 an observing man to make a note of matters, 

 which, to the workers, are worth studying a 

 little. 



Plants have very different powers of penetration, 

 perhaps different faculties for feeding. I observe 

 thai some carrots, and some Swedish and some 

 German turnips make very different use of difier- 

 ent circumstances. 



Part of my ground occupied by carrots was well 

 ploughed : part was thoroughly spaded also with 

 a fork. On the part which was only ploughed and 

 then levelled with a hoe and rake, the carrots 

 stand better, four to one, and are much larger 

 also than on the ground which was so forked as to 



be very much lighter. The difference most dis- 

 tinctly marks the line between the spaded and 

 that which was not, and in favor of the latter for 

 the carrots. All was dressed alike. 



With turnips it is entirely the reverse. Where 

 I have three kinds of turnips, Ruta Baga, Yellow 

 Aberdeen and Sweet German, the advantage is 

 very greatly in favor of the thoroughly spaded or 

 forked ground, both in the standing and growth. 



It would therefore appear as though the carrot 

 did better where the soil was not extremely mel- 

 low ; but that the soft and tender roots of turnips 

 demand the most mellow condition of the soil. 



The destruction of the greater portion of plants 

 by insects, in both cases, was where the plants 

 made the most feeble srart. Things for thinking. 



Lee, N. H., Aug. 1, 1870. A. G. Comings. 



SAND FOR BEDDING. 



I wish to inquire if you think dry sand is as 

 good for bedding for cows as sawdust ? Which, 

 in your opinion, is best for the soil ? My soil is 

 rather sandy. I have always used sawdust, as I 

 have not much more muck than I want in my yard 

 and for other uses. The October flood of last year 

 washed up a large amount of sand near my barn. 

 I have used some; it gets very dry, is rather 

 coarse, and I find it takes more of it than of saw- 

 dust. I have to go three miles for my sawdust, 

 and pav for it at that. C. F. Lincoln. 



Woodstock, Vt., 1870. 



Remarks. — We should prefer the sawdust un- 

 less we were preparing composts for low grounds. 

 In that case, the sand would be a valuable dress- 

 ing. Many good farmers do not think sawdust of 

 much value in the stalls, and of none whatever in 

 the manure. It certainly is a pretty good absorb- 

 ent, and forms an easy bed for stock of any kind 

 to lie upon. When old, small applications of it 

 may be made every year with advantage. It is 

 supposed by some to be injurious to the soil. Ap- 

 plied in large quantities at once, it probably would 

 kill grass, and render even compact soils too loose 

 and porous. 



ONE PIG GROWS FASTER THAN ANOTHER. 



I have two very fine pigs, three months old, — 

 one a sow the other a barrow. The barrow gams 

 flesh faster than the sow. The latter while eating 

 is in the habit of lifting its nose and pressing it 

 hard against the upper edge of the trough, some- 

 what as a cribbing horse presses his teeth on the 

 crib. This is something new to me. What is the 

 cause ? and what the remedy ? A Subscriber. 



Northwood, N. H., July 30, 1870. 



Remarks. — This is no uncommon experience in 

 pig growing, as you will probably ascertain by in- 

 quiry among the old farmers of your neighbor- 

 hood. 



FALLING OF THE ■WITHERS IN COWS 



This troublesome complaint attending many 

 cows just previous to their calving, and which ap- 

 pears to be increasing Is, I believe, very much 

 aggravated by their being compelled to lie upon 

 short plank stalls, by which a hard strain comes 

 upon the hind quarters. When once a weakness 

 of this kind is created, it is apt to continue and 

 increase. In this way I believe, the value of many 

 a good cow has been greatly diminished. The 

 writer had a valuable Alderney cow which was 

 very much troubled by this falling, and which he 

 has no doubt was caused by her lying upon a 



