1871. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



255 



portion of the summer, there were many young 

 apple trees which had sprung up from seeds 

 dropped by the cattle. These were pruned 

 up as high as they would bear, to prevent the 

 animals from browsing on them, grafted, and 

 such branches as were cut from them, and the 

 bushes that grew in their vicinity cut down, and 

 all thrown around the base of the tree, and 

 covering a space from six to eight feet in 

 diameter. The principal motive in this was 

 to keep the cattle from rubbing against the 

 trees. But the result in another respect was 

 highly beneficial. The branches not only kept 

 the cows from disturbing the trees, but they 

 caught and held the leaves that fell from them- 

 selves in the autumn, and arrested otlier leaves 

 that were flying before the wind. These re- 

 tained the moisture, and the whole mass, grad- 

 ually decaying, gave a thrift and vigor to the 

 trees that we have rarely seen surpassed. 



Many gardens are located upon sandy loams 

 ■which quickly feel the want of moisture. In 

 such places many valuable plants may be kept 

 in a growing state through the pinch, so that 

 later rains will perfect a crop. 



The Mili^et Chop. — Most milk producers, 

 and, indeed, most farmers in all this region, 

 find it difficult to feed their cattle as they would 

 like to, by tlie beginning of August. Their 

 pastures are then dry, and the feed nearly or 

 quite exhausted. Some liave resorted to 

 clover as a green crop, others to oats, and at 

 a later period to Indian corn, wherewith to 

 supply deficiencies of their pastures. 



Millet has been found to answer an excel- 

 lent purpose, and is now cultivated to a con- 

 siderable extent. Its yield is large, its luxu- 

 riant leaves juicy and tender, and much rel- 

 ished by all kinds of stock. It is usually 

 sown from the 10th to the 20th of June, using 

 eight quarts of seed to the acre. Some per- 

 sons use more seed than this. If sown thick, 

 the straw of the crop will be finer and perhaps 

 better for green fodder, but should not be 

 thick enough to obstruct the rays of the sun 

 from reaching all of it. The seed should be 

 sown with great care, going both ways across 

 the field with it, in order to touch all the 

 ground and cover it evenly. Mr. John H. 

 Powell, of Pennsylvania, says : — I have not 

 seen, either in Europe or America, any green 

 crop which so largely rewards accurate tillage 

 and plentiful supplies of manure, as the species 



of millet usually grown in this and the adja- 

 cent counties. I have sown it from the 1st 

 ol May to the 20th of June, and have invari- 

 ably obtained more fodder than could have 

 been had from any grass under similar circum- 

 stances." On the 1st of May he sowed four 

 acres, and on the fifth of July the crop was 

 cured and estimated at fonr tons per acre. 

 He adds : — "whilst my oxen consumed millet 

 in its green state, they performed their work 

 with more strength and vigor than they had 

 done before, or have shown since, except 

 when fed with grain. ]\Iy cattle of all ages, 

 prefer it to both red and the best white clover, 

 meadow or timothy hay." 



LETTING FAKM IMPLEMENTS. 



Fifty or sixty years ago the amount of money 

 paid out by fi^niers for tools and implements was 

 small, especially in the newer and rougher portions 

 of New England. In our boyhood, which was 

 passed on a new farm and in a new couutrj-, the 

 iron and steel part of axes, ploughs, harrows, yokes, 

 hoes, &c., were fashioned by the nearest blacksmith, 

 while the wood work was supplied by the farmers 

 themselves or by the carpenter. When carts were 

 first introduced we well remember that .only the 

 wheels were purchased, the other parts being of 

 home manufacture. 



But all this is changed. Machines and imple- 

 ments of high finish and great cost are now made 

 to facilitate almost every operation on the farm. 

 To purchase all this machinery requires an amount 

 of money altogether beyond the means of most 

 small farmers. Hence in some cases neighbor- 

 hoods join together in buying machines; in others 

 individuals purchase threshing, stump-pulling and 

 other machines and operate them as desired for in- 

 dividual farmers. 



Another plan has been suggested, that of letting 

 or renting tools by neighbors among themselves. 

 We have recently received a little pamphlet, en- 

 titled "Rules and Regulations concerning the Let- 

 ring of Tools. Issued b}' the Framingham, Mass., 

 Farmers' Union, January 1, 1871." It contains an 

 introductory note, a set of Rules, names of mem- 

 bers, a "Charge List" and blanks properly ruled 

 for keeping accounts with borrowers. The names 

 of fourteen members of the club are given, with 

 that of O. O. Johnson, M. D., as secretary. The 

 prefatory note is as follows : — 



Whatever may be the cause, expensive and effi- 

 cient agricultural implements are not in common 

 use. To purchase machinery capable of great re- 

 sults, an outlay is often incurred out of proportion 

 to the profits of Agriculture. But a great variety 

 of the best tools owned in New England commu- 

 nities, are worked to but a fraction of their capac-- 

 ity, although they are of vital importance to rural 

 industry. No where else are they so much meeded. 

 Like money, farm machinery is locked ia the 

 strong holds of a few. 



