1871. 



NEW englaot:) farmer. 



95 



of Grafton resembles very closely his grand sii-e, 

 the 6tli UiikcofTliomclale, owned by A. Whitman, 

 Fitchburg, Mass. I also saw nine thorough-bred 

 cows which are said to be gi-cat milkers. One of 

 them, a three-year-old heifer, is a line animal. He 

 has three tine "calves, all thorough-bred animals. 



farmers' club. 



The farmers of Grafton have a club in successful 

 operation. From what I was told I concluded that 

 the meetings must be very interesting. They are 

 held at private houses, in rotation. The members 

 take their wives with them, which acts as a sthnu- 

 lus to their best cftbrts. After the discussion a so- 

 cial time is generally enjoyed. I think such a club 

 would be bcneticial to farmers in other towns, if 

 they would enterinto it with a like spirit and en- 

 thusiasm, and for the purpose of improvement in 

 the vai'ious branches of agriculture, and for the in- 

 crease of the general stock of information. 



B. D. W. 



PLANTING PEAS IN FALL OR WINTER. 



One of your correspondents wishes for infonna- 

 tion in reference to planting peas in the fall. Last 

 winter was very open, as doubtless you remember. 

 Thinking that if tall planting brought forward an 

 early crop, planting in the winter would probably 

 do as well in this respect, and much better as far as 

 lial)ility to rot was concerned, I therefore planted 

 quite a little lot; and now for the result : — 



But a small numlier of them came up, and those 

 that did come at all came several days later than 

 those planted in April. It was near enough a fail- 

 ure to be called one, and has satisfied me that this 

 kind of early planting^and foil planting also, are 

 not to be recommended. !My land was light and 

 sandy, just what is needed for such business to in- 

 sure against rot. p. 



Mirickville, Mass., Dec, 1870. 



MEETING OF THE AG L BOARD AT FRAMINGHAM. 



I attended the last day's session of the State 

 Board of Agi-iculture at Franringham, and was 

 very much interested in the lectures and discus- 

 sions. I consider the lecture of Dr. Nichols worth 

 a great deal to any man who owns even one acre 

 of land. Had I supposed the sessions would be 

 one-tenth part as interesting as this one was, I 

 would have been present at the whole. I wish 

 every farmer in the State could have been there ; 

 and I wish to urge my brother farmers to attend 

 these meetings in the future ; especially the young 

 farmers. I would say to them tliat they cannot 

 spend a few days more p'-o!itab!y than by so doing. 

 I consider my one day 'e attendance the most profit- 

 able day's work that i have done in the whole year. 

 The lecture of ;Mr. Gregory, on raising vegetables, 

 was worth more than a year's experience in the 

 business to any man who has but a small garden 

 to cultivate. I hope that at the next annual meet- 

 ing, there will be a grand rally among the farmers 

 of Massachusetts. C. B. Rathbun. 



West Berlin, Mass., Jan. 2, 1871. 



For the New England Far'me 



WrNDOW GAEDENIlSra FOR JAJSr- 

 UARY. 



"The icicles hang from each cottage and bower. 

 Reflecting the moon's paly beam, 

 The windows are garnished with many a flower 

 By nature's cold pencil, the frosts chilly power, 

 Like the wild fancy work of a dream." 



Though it has been winter for many a week, 

 it is not until the latter days of the departing 

 year, that we have felt his icy breath. It was 



left for Christmas to inaugurate liis reign, and 

 on that holy day the mercury ranged far be- 

 low* the all-important cipher ; and though we 

 had, as we supposed, fully protected our loin- 

 dow gardens by double windows, and folds of 

 thick paper, yet King Frost touched some of 

 the plants with his blackening fingers, and ru- 

 ined their beauty ! But only one window was 

 thus injured, and we rejoice in the possession 

 of three others, so all our pets are not gone. 

 The puny frost-bitten darUngs were put into 

 a dark cellar, and though their leaves have 

 fallen, a httle desirable rest will strengthen 

 their resources, and in a few weeks we shall 

 give them stimulants, light and air, and by 

 March they will be a "thing of joy." A Bel- 

 gium Daisy which was in full bud has suf- 

 fered the most, all its leaves are blackened 

 and crumpled. But we cannot expect to cul- 

 tivate "Window Gardens" without some draw- 

 backs, some trials of patience, and we can only 

 be thankful that all did not die ; and not mur- 

 mur and complain over the few that suffered. 

 Their loss may be the means of saving others 

 far more precious, as Patcr-familias will now 

 take more heed to the fire in the "soap-stone." 

 We have taken possession of a sunny, south- 

 western window, in the china closet ; have im- 

 provised a plant-stand out of a light-stand and 

 a wooden moulding board, with a shelf added 

 to the upper case, and feel secure against the 

 depredations of the frost henceforth. AVe no- 

 tice that "^4 Housekeeper'''' would like minute 

 directions for the construction of "Window 

 Boxes ;" and would also like to know how to 

 cultivate them. We are very glad to furnish 

 such directions, and trust many of our readers 

 will take an interest in lloriculture and write us 

 of their wants. We shall be happy to supply 

 all the information we possess on the subject. 



Ill last week's issue we answered Etta Park- 

 er's questions concerning a moveable garden 

 on a light-stand ; but most "Window Boxes" 

 are made to fit tightly into the window shelf. 

 Those of our readers who live in old fashioned 

 houses, with deep window recesses, furnished 

 with tight window shutters, have at hand an 

 admirable convenience for a "Window Box ;" 

 and can make one exactly fitted to it. But 

 such charmingly ancient houses are not very 

 abundant, and those of us not fortunate 

 enough to dwell in one, must arrange a Win- 

 dow Box with a moveable leg attached by a 

 hinge to the middle of the "box" and resting 

 upon the mop-board of the apartment. The 

 boards for its construction should be of inch 

 stuff for the bottom, and the sides and ends of 

 half -inch stuff, all well seasoned ; and the 

 foundation board ought to project an inch or 

 more at the outer side, and at both ends. 

 The boards must be closely dove-tailed togeth- 

 er, or tightly fastened with shingle nails. Now 

 fine it with zinc, or if preferred have a tin pan 

 made to fit it easily, and have it painted green, 

 so that it will not rust out. By this arrange- 

 ment, it can be turned about occasionally, thus 



