58 



THE N E W (; E N E R E E 1 A R M E R, 



Vol. 1. 



From the Maim Farmtr. 



China Corn and Rohan Potatoes, down East. 



Dear Doctor — I see thnt numcroua of your cor- 

 respondents mnnirest a peculiar aticjUion i'or Grant 

 Thorbum and his "China Fail Prolific Tree Corn." 

 Indeed lliey seem to regard it as the most "mag- 

 nificent humbug" of the nineteenth century. If the 

 old "Seedsman" believes that it is better to be infa 

 moiis than non-famous, his present position must give 

 him great joy. I have no doubt that he feels in his 

 pockets all the triumph which his experiment on pop- 

 ular credulity gave him. 



Why should the people so abuse /urn, when they 

 pay daily to be hoaxed, and the intention of the hoax 

 is declared in advance '. Why «hould Grant Tborburn 

 ehine out in such deceptive splendor from amid the 

 petty luminaries whi-h twinkle in the world's firma- 

 ment I 



I have had some e.vperience in this China Corn — 

 that is, I have been made the rcpositor\' of other peo- 

 ple's experience, and will, with your fnvop, bestow a 

 little of it upon your readers. 



The farmers on Saco River are good corn growers. 

 They were among the first to bite at the China Tree 

 Corn. A friend of mine who cultivated a garden 

 pnteh — purchased, last year, in Hallowell, at the rate 

 of a cent a kernel. He, of course, believed that he 

 had got bis money's worth — and 1 think now, is grati- 

 fied thnt he did not get more f >r his money — for more 

 would have been a misfortune. He got just enough 

 for his money to test the cheat, and I guess Vas fully 

 satisfied on that bead with his bargain. I used fre- 

 frfquently to visit bis garden for the purpose of watchr 

 in I' its growth and dovelopment. 1 saw, first the 

 "blade, then the ear," but never was my sightblessed 

 with the full-ripe corn upon the ear. My friend was 

 proud of his rod of corn, though it was only a rod in 

 pickle, and used to expatiate upon its luxurious growth 

 in glowing terms. Nature proceeded in this way un- 

 til the ear began to form. This did not appear, as was 

 confidently expected, upon the ends of the promised 

 branches, but grew close upon the main stalk, and 

 stuck close to its side, as a man's rib. This opened 

 his eyes to tho deception which he had purchased, and 

 paid for. In addition to this, it was plainly evident 

 that Jack Frost would do the harvesting. Then it was 

 that the tide turned, and I was requested to blow up 

 the China Tree Corn in tho newspapers. It was, 

 however, too late, for it had blown up of itsclt. Al- 

 most all our fanners on the Saco got more or less of 

 this corn. One man purchased five dollars worth, 

 and gave up to it almost all the land he had intended 

 for his corn crop — others purchased and distributed in 

 small parcels of a dozen kernels to 'the neighborhood.' 

 The determinauon seemed to be that this blessing 

 should be as widely diffused as possible. It was early 

 a marvel to me how there could be such an abundance 

 of this new variety the "first year." Joseph's Egyp- 

 tian granary, which contained a seven year's supply, 

 could hardly have answered the drain which was 

 made upon the little Long Island patch. Itseemed to 

 realize anew in a more remarkable manner than the 

 poor widow's oil-cruise — for the more there was sold, 

 the more there remained to sell. It multiplied, though 

 it has failed to replenish itself from the earth in our 

 region. 



The Tree Corn was the butt of much merriment, 

 and the wags found it more fmilful, for their purpo- 

 ses, than it was recommended. To them it yielded 

 more than a hundred fold. It was truly "prolific" in 

 causing fun and humor. During the latter portion 

 of the summer, it was at all times a standing joke of 

 "tho tallest kind." One man declared that if his had 

 turned 'tother way, it would, in the course of the sum- 

 mer, have' gone down to China. On one man's land 

 it "turned out a hoax," while his next neighbor's 

 patch did'nt "turn out at ail," and in the garden of 

 gardens, the pride of the viKngc, it "turned out tall." 

 Our man was complinienled on tb» luxuriant growth 

 of his sap-WngB — and generous ofiijrs were made to 

 secure sUmpnac. Another was asked whether his 

 tree-corn would siirrcy or miMsnn to the best advan- 

 tage. It was recommrnrlnil to tho I'igwacket farmers 

 ns the best corn for tbeni, as they could "tree liears" 

 on it. Time, space, and patience would fail me to re- 

 cord even a moiety of the jokes which were coined on 

 this matter. They are, however, worthy the attention 

 of some modern Joe Miller, and deserve to bo corned 

 down for preservation and use. 



The corn-planters were variously afTected, as their 

 dispositions were various. Many laughed, while the 

 more testy, when reminded of their crop expectations 

 would, like Commodore Trunnion, let olF an onth to 

 ruffle the current of their speech. Rome were for run- 

 nine Grant Thorburn "up a tree" higher than that of 



Haman. Indeed eould the old man have heard a few | 

 of the many maledictions poured out upon him, he 

 would have begged a "Tyburn Tippet" and permis- 

 sion to do his own hanging — and perhaps, in mercy. 

 Grant's petition for this purpose would have been 

 granted him, and care taken that he should have per- 

 fected his own execution. 



There were others who practised upon the poet's 

 ma-xim: 



"Mirth always ehouUl good fortune meet, 



And render e'ea disaster sweet." 



These were wdling, as a return for Grant's benevo- 

 lent enterprise, that he should be grunted titles from 

 all the crops, on condition that he would gather them 

 himself. 



In this way matters proceeded until Jack Frost took 

 the crop int^hisown hands — and he at once aofll 

 short its existence. Karly one October morning lie 

 whispered something in its ear that chilled its very life 

 blood to freezing, and curdled the sweet milk of kind- 

 ness which nurtured its bosom. Then those who 

 speculated on the "rise of stalks" during the summer, 

 bi-gan to count the loss occasioned by their anticipated 

 fallf in autumn. If the corn did not ripen — there was 

 much ripe humour expended on .i. If it did not get 

 dry to cut up — there were the more jokes "cut and 

 dried" and traced up on its account — on Saco-River 

 the last was emphatically a "Tall-corn" year. This 

 corn was all and more, than it was "cracked up to be." 

 Then there were Roh^in potatoes. I3ut these were 

 no hoax. They were planted in little patches about 

 our " diggina" and in the end dug well. "Look 

 here Tom," said a friend of mine, as he exhumed a 

 gigantic Rohan from the earth — "Dont that make 

 your Irish mouth water?" I was fain to confess that 

 made into Irish Whiskey, and smacked oif with the 

 smoke of the peat fire, it would smack right well — 

 and even if he would get a good bake on it, I promis- 

 ed not to be mealy moutlied about buttering and eat- 

 ing it. The way the Itttle potatoe hills clapped their 

 hands for joy, was mirth inspiring, truly. 'The mur- 

 phies were "good nice big 'uns," and a good many of 

 'em in a hill. 



But I have exceeded by far the limit which I propo- 

 sed myself, and will stop here, for fear I shall get off 

 my sheet and not get into yours. 



Yours truly, Sai.athiel. 



From the Albany Cultivator, 

 Of stock, and the Manner of Feeding. 



I have learned that a good cow, in good condition, 

 will more readily sell for forty dollars, than a poor 

 cow, in low flesh, will bring twenty dollars. A good 

 cow, well fed, is more profitable than two poor ones. 

 Hence the importance of keeping such stock as will 

 pay well for first rate keep. We are too careless on 

 this subject. A great proportion of the farm stock is 

 of that worthless character, that its best returns will 

 not pay for the food it consumed. But siUI, I beheve 

 there is more carelessness and indifference, more cen- 

 surable negligence, and perhaps greater call for re- 

 form, in the manner in which our stock is protected 

 and fed, than in the quality of the breed. Within the 

 last two years, in the course of business, I have visited 

 many farmers in different pa^ of the country, and for 

 the most part during severe winter weather. I have 

 been into the house, barn, cattle yard, and fields; and 

 I am ashamed to tell the residt of my observations. I 

 am exceedingly mortified to see, and even to think of 

 such slovenliness and poverty, even among men es- 

 teemed respectable. I mean not, however, poverty 

 absolute, but poverty of the carcases of cattle, sheep, 

 and horses. And, sirs, I would only whisper these 

 facts to you, were it not that I believe there' is a reme- 

 dy. And that remedy is in diffusing information. — 

 And I feel it my duty to proclaim such facts upon the 

 house-tops. I would go into the minutia of such 

 management. I would draw such a picture of impro- 

 vidence and recklessness, as should prove a looking- 

 glass, in which every farmer, if he saw not himself, 

 woidd at least see more or less of his neighbors. 



And first, of the cattle yard, which, in some cases, 

 was a lot of six, eight, or ten acres, and the barn 

 somewhere near the centre. In other ea.ses there was 

 a pretended enclosure about the barn, but did not af- 

 ford the least hindrance to all the stock, from rambling 

 the whole farm over in search of scanty ftiod and wat- 

 er. In these cattle yards I have seen dead sheep, 

 which, from the appearance of those alive, one would 

 expect had died of starvation. Colts and calves, 

 wiiii-h might be expected to be found in the same Ciu- 

 dition ilia few days. Cows which, instead of furnish- 

 ing the family with mi!k, looked ns if they themselves 

 would require to bo fed with milk, to preserve their 

 lives a month longer. Not a stable, cow-house, hovel, 

 or shelter of any kind, to protect them from the chil- 



ling winds and storms of winter. I have seen the 

 owner of such a stock of cattle and sheep, scatter hay 

 of the must worthless kind about the yard, which was 

 filled with mud and tilth. The stronger of the herd 

 would, with reluctance, eat a portion of the hay, and 

 trample the balance in the filth of the yard; while the 

 weaker were driven away to shiver in the corners of 

 the fence. 



Such management I have seen with my own eyes, 

 or I wotdd not believe it. Such, to be sure, is not the 

 general character of our farmers, but far too many 

 wotdd see themselves in the above description. Now, 

 sirs, what do you suppose was the first cpicstion \ 

 should ask such a man ? I will tell you. It was this: 

 "D.> you take the Genesee Farmer ?" And can yon 

 imagine Vhat was his reply ? Of course you can. — 

 He says, "No, I do not; I have thought several times 

 I would, but my family expenses ure large, and I can- 

 not afford it." "What! nut fiftv cents a year ?" said 

 I. "Suppose you sell one of those pigs for fifty cents, 

 give the same food to the other three, and subscribe 

 lor the Genesee Fanner. Here, (continued his visit- 

 or,) you have three or four sons, between twelve and 

 twenty-one years of age, and it appears to me exceed- 

 ingly important that they should have the opportunity 

 i of reading and informing themselves of the very great 

 improvements in agriculture, which have been made 

 within the last few years." But all to no purpose — 

 Ignorant he was, and ignorant he will be. 



But I rejoice to say I have visited farmers of a dif- 

 ferent character. And, with your approbation, will 

 give you a little sketch of the management of one of 

 them, with whom I am personally acquainted. I 

 went also into his house, barn and cattle yard, for he 

 had one deserving the name, on two sides of which 

 were barns well filled; on one of the other sides, a 

 good frame cow-house, and on the other side a large 

 stack of straw, and a well-house, covering a good well 

 of water and a pump, and in which well-house were 

 deposited ploughs, harrows, cultivators, roller, wagon, 

 *S^c. In the yard were good substantial racks lor 

 coarse fodder, such as corn-stalks, straw, &c. But no 

 mud or water. This was all absorbed by the straw 

 and litter which was scattered liberally about the yard. 

 I went with him to his barn at night, (for he attends 

 to these matters himself, ) to observe his manner of do- 

 ing things. And when he opened his stable door, first 

 a large pair oi oxen, next several cows, all in such 

 condition as butchers would not complain of, marched 

 into the stable, and each to the proper stall, in the 

 most perfect order and regularity, where they were 

 tied with ropes, stanihng to their knees in dry straw 

 litter. Then he took a basket, and went into a cellar 

 adjoining the stable, and brought out sugar beets, and 

 fed to each milch cow a half bushel, first cutting them 

 in a box standing on the barn floor, directly in Irontol 

 the stable, with an instrument resembling a large fam- 

 ily chopping knife, the edge straight and about fifteen 

 inches in length. In the same manner, and from tho 

 same cellar, did he feed to his oxen and other cattle the 

 same quantity of ruta baga turnips. 



I requested of this farmer a statement of his opinion 

 of the root culture, and the comparative value of roots 

 and hay; also bis manner of wintering his stock. And 

 I was so well pleased with his views and his practice, 

 that I am inclined to give it to the public through tho 

 Cultivator. It was in substance as follows; — He says, 

 "In the first place, I keep no more stock than I can 

 keep iccll. As to the feeding of milch cows, I com- 

 mence in September with a liberal supply of pumpkins, 

 which I continue until the first of December, and then 

 commence with sugar beets, in preference to turrups, 

 because the turnips give a bad flavor to the milk and 

 butter. The sugar brets I continue all winter, half a . 

 bushel per day to each cow. When I put up my cows 

 at night, I first feed them their beets, and in the course 

 of the evening feed them with good clover and timo- 

 thy hay. In the morninii give them corn stalks, and 

 tlirough the day feed with straw, pleatifully scattered 

 in the yard. Ai d I find by experience, that I can 

 keep more stock in this manner than to feed hay only. 

 And besides I am doubly paid for t're cost of the roots, 

 in the increased q antily of milk. And with this feed, 

 together with good water in the yard, and a decent ap- 

 plication of the card every morning, cows arc always 

 in good flesh, and, as may be supposed, are always 

 glad to see me. I feed my oxen and calves in the 

 same manner with turnips. 



"My manner of feeding my sheep is as follows: — 

 They are ke|)t in yards well protected from winds and 

 storms. They are fed in boxes made perfectly tight, 

 very accessible, and yet so constructed that ihcy cannot 

 get into them. In these boxes I feed in the morning, 

 at the rate of one peek of ccn to a hundred sheep, 

 and at evenins; H bushels ruta baga turnips, cut fine 

 and salted. "This is all the feed they get except a libe- 



