Imagini ale paginilor
PDF
ePub

table physiology is that each different plant peared, but thus far we had discovered no change should, by means of this absorbent power of the in the warts themselves. roots, take up only that peculiar earthy aliment Some days later, however, about the 20th of which is suited to its constitution. Thus if a that these warts had become masses of black, poJune, we found on examination of the tumbler, stalk of wheat and a pea vine grow together, the rous matter, evidently eaten through and through roots of the wheat take up the silex, while those by some worm. Still there was enough of coheof the pea take up the calcareous parts of the soil.

WHEAT.

sion about each mass to preserve its form, except that it was somewhat increased in size. Opening these masses, we discovered in each a small white According to the most correct analysis, wheat grub with a dark head; in some, more than one contains in one hundred parts, 33 per cent. of grub. A few days later, this grub had become a ashes, and these ashes consist of 12 per cent. lime, chrysalis. Still later I examined again, and found salts, and 51 of silicia, or sand. Hence, wheat on removing the cover, several small black flies, will sometimes succeed after buckwheat, as they of slender form, such as we had never before noThese I supare composed of different elements, both of which ticed, some of which escaped us. posed to proceed from the warts, because on exmay co-exist in the soil. amination I found in some of them certain little insects, evidently becoming transformed into flies. The soil for peas should not be too liberally en- One chrysalis I opened, contained an insect of a riched. A great degree of fertility appears not to be required to develop the excellencies of this crop, which is indebted less to the soil than many other vegetables, and more to the air, for the food which perfects its growth.

PEAS.

grayish color, looking as much like a bug as a fly. Another contained the same insect in a torpid came active. These, I suppose, both became flies state, which after a little exposure to the air beafter the lapse of a little more time.

Of the connection between the little worms first mentioned, and the warts, I have no opinion, because they soon after appeared in countless myriads, on trees upon which there are no excrescences like those on plum trees.

For the New England Farmer. WARTS ON PLUM TREES. MR. BROWN-I had noticed that my plum trees, of which I have several varieties, during some From the other facts I draw the following inferyears, were becoming disfigured by the unseemly the mischief-maker in this case that during the ences-that the little fly alluded to, is probably excrescences, of which there have been so many summer it deposits its egg in, on, or under, the complaints of late. I thought I would attempt, at least, to ascertain the cause, since this knowledge the excrescence, which forms over the egg so as bark, infusing therewith a poison that occasions is indispensable to a cure. Last April, I resolved to cut up at the roots all the trees which had be-effectually to shield it-that here it lies through come very badly diseased, and to prune from the the winter, until the return of warm weather, others all the branches which had become affected; when it hatches; becomes a grub-a chrysalisfor I had noticed in attempting to cut out the a fly-thus reproducing its species-that the probwarts, that the wood was in almost every in-able preventive of the ravages of the insect is to stance diseased to the heart. While engaged in cut off, either in the autumn, or early in the this process, my son severed a number of the spring, every branch on which an incipient wart warts carefully from their stock, and placed them makes its appearance, and burn it. in a tumbler covered with a glass cup-plate. Two I know, Mr. Editor, that it is not commonly or three weeks subsequently, on a further exami- safe to base a theory upon a single experiment, or nation of the trees, he found several warts which investigation. I therefore only give you the prohad commenced a vigorous growth, about which cess of my investigation with its results, and my were a multitude of little white worms, apparent- deductions therefrom, without any strong confily of the same species as those which later in the dence that these deductions are correct. Perhaps season committed such fearful depredations in others have investigated this matter in a similar the orchards and other fruit trees through the way. If so, I hope we may learn the results. country. In some cases, these worms had formed Certain it is, that unless something can be done their nest about the wart, in others, seemed im- to arrest the destruction now in progress among bedded under the bark, so that when disturbed, the plum trees of this region, we shall soon cease they would retire from view. But the wart, rath- to enjoy this delicious fruit. er than the adjacent parts of the limb, seemed to be their home. This was before the worms made their appearance on the trees generally.

Cornwall, Vt., Feb., 1854.

L. MATTHEWS.

FINE HOGS.-A few days ago, we saw at stall Several pieces of limb having these excrescences 70, Quincy Market, eight of the finest porkers of upon them, my son cut off, and we placed them the season. They were the property of J. FOGG, with the warts before collected, in the tumbler, Esq., of Deerfield, Mass- Suffolk, but one year which we placed in a vessel of water, hoping old, and the lot weighed 2,428 pounds. They were thereby to prevent the escape of anything from it.

The genial atmosphere of the house hastened the fed on equal parts of broom corn seed and Indian growth of the worms, and as our covering was not corn, both ground, until the first of January, and sufficiently close they escaped, and many of them after that time on corn meal alone. The first prewere drowned, while some succeeded in swimming mium was awarded these swine at the Franklin to the edge of the vessel, from which they let Cattle Show last fall. The weight given above themselves down by their web to the table on was after the shrinkage had been deducted. We which the vessel stood. These worms soon disap-have never seen a finer lot of pork.

THE HORSE HOE.

implement steady and in a straight-forward direcThis cut represents an instrument recently in- tion; the two side or middle teeth are miniature vented by the manufacturers, Messrs. RUGGLES, plows, which may be changed from one side to the NOURSE, MASON & Co., which they name the Horse other, so as to turn the earth from the rows at Hoe, and which we have used through one season first weeding when the plants are small and tenand have spoken of in terms of approbation. It der, or towards them in later cultivation-at the is designed for the hoeing or cultivation of corn, option of the operator; the broad rear tooth efthe various root crops, cotton, hops, young nurs- fectually disposes of grasses and weeds, cutting off eries, and hoed crops generally; is quite light, or rooting up all that come in its way, is a thoreasily managed, and of very easy draught for one ough pulverizer of the surface, sifting the earth horse or mule; a thorough pulverizer of the sur- and weeds through its iron prongs or fingers in face-soil, and exterminator of weeds and grass. the rear, leaving the weeds on the surface to wilt The forward tooth is simply a coulter, to keep the and die, and the ground level and mellow. For

[graphic]

hoeing carrots, turnips, &c., where the rows are year were the best I ever raised, but I am not cernarrow, the side teeth are taken out, and the rear tain but that some other fertilizers that I had aptooth with the forward one as a director to guide plied in previous years aided in bringing about this result. The Potash seems to have a threethe instrument, hoes and mellows the ground be-fold beneficial effect. It not only sweetens, as it tween the rows very perfectly. The mortises in were, the ground, but furnishes food for plants, the frame or wood work of this instrument are and serves to keep the soil moist by absolving adapted to receive the kinds of teeth used in the moisture from the atmosphere. Expanding and Reversable Tooth Cultivator, which

we shall give next week.

method of applying diluted Aqua Ammonia, as As Ammonia is exceedingly volatile, I think the suggested by your correspondent, somewhat objectionable. I propose the following, instead, which For the New England Farmer. will, at least, have this recommendation, "if it do no good it will do no harm." The Carbonate of POTASH AS A FERTILIZER. Ammonia is made by mixing Chlor. Ammonia with MR. EDITOR:-Seeing an inquiry in your paper Lime. Any one can satisfy himself of this by pulof 25th ult., whether any one had ever made use verizing a little of the former (the common Sal. of the Carbonate of Potass as a fertilizer, I answer Am. of the shops, which is not costly) with rather that I have tried it on a limited scale with satis- more than an equal quantity of pulverized Lime; factory results. My immediate object, in the first A double decomposition takes place and Carb. Amplace, was to kill out the sorrel in a garden bed. mon. and Choride of Lime formed. Now if Lime Having broken up a small piece in a favorable spot be ploughed in, and intimately mixed with the in a pasture for the purpose of raising carrots, I soil at a considerable depth, and a small quantity found in a few years that the sorrel was creeping of Sal. Ammon. be scattered on the surface and in from the adjoining grass ground faster than I raked in, it will slowly and gradually dissolve, and, could conveniently destroy it by the use of ashes, coming in contact with lime, will give out Ammolime or the hoe. I therefore selected a particular nia, which will be absorbed by the soil and be taken bed for the trial of the Potash, reserving others for up by the plants as required by them. A similar other experiments, having for convenience divided mutual decomposition takes place, and Ammonia the piece into beds 2 rods long and rod wide. is evolved if pearlash is used instead of Lime. PerAs sorrel roots or rather runners are near the sur- haps charcoal would be a good addition as an abface, I first levelled the bed, and then sowed on sorbent. But after all, Mr. Editor, a single line the surface 2 lbs. Saleratus, and raked it in with of successful experiment is worth a whole page of a common garden rake, scarcely doubting but that theory. I hope that some of your readers who have the ley would be so strong as to prevent my seeds leisure and means, will try the above and other from sprouting. But I was mistaken; they came experiments, and let us know the results, whether up and grew finely. I have since tried it on other favorable or otherwise. I suppose that the parcrops with decided good effect. My onions last ticular proportions of the ingredients I have men

tioned are of no great consequence, provided there pets, furniture, &c., which were selected almost be an excess of Alkali. Should this mode of gen- as much on the opinions of their newly made city erating Ammonia prove successful, and I see no friends, as by their own taste, and which cost reason why it will not, it may, after a few exper- rather more than what their own judgment dictaiments to ascertain the proper quantities, be useful in preparing hot-beds, &c. New Salem, March, 1854.

C. P.

For the New England Farmer.

COUNTRY FARMERS AND CITY

if a

ted as necessary to "begin with," have been arranged, and are all paid for. The good house-wife has had time to look about the premises a little more thoughtfully, and to contrast her new home with the old one that she left so willingly. She has much better furniture; her parlor, though ME-smaller than the "square-room" of her father's CHANICS---No. 2. house, is neater, prettier, nicer. But her empty MR. BROWN:-In my first article, which you cellar, or no cellar at all! She does wonder, as did me the kindness to publish, I promised to say the "marketing" is brought home,.that she used something at another time upon the subject of pro- to think so little of the huge potato-bin, the barviding for and rearing families in the city and in rels of pork, the firkins of butter, pots of lard, the country. But I find it a much harder subject boxes of apples, heaps of "garden sauce," shelves to write upon than to think about, as indeed most of milk, cream, cheese, pickles, good old cider apsubjects are to those little accustomed to giving ple-sauce, &c., that used to clutter-up their cellar. their thoughts a "local habitation and a name." Now, all these things must be purchased-and at I remark, then, by way of beginning, that both such prices! Nine dollars for a little heap of coal, my own experience and my observation of the ex- and the same for a cord of wood to kindle it, twenperience of others, teach me that the advantages of ty-six cents for a pound of butter, thirty to forty a city are decidedly on the side of single or for a peck of potatoes, twelve to twenty for a pound unmarried mechanics; and that it is from con- of fresh meat, twenty to thirty for a dozen of eggs, fining their observations to this class, that country and luckly if not stale, at that, every pound of people form a too favorable opinion of city life. I lard, every string of onions, every quart of beans, am willing to admit that an unmarried mechanic, every pint of milk, and even every pail of water if a superior workman, and blessed with health (if they take the Cochituate) has a price, and a and those habits of economy learned only in the price that must be paid or the article cannot be country, may lay up more money in the city, than had. a journeyman farmer can in the country; or, These are small things, to be sure, but "Small little given to display, that the city youth may sands the mountains make," cents make dollars, dress and keep himself in better-looking style than and "trifles life," and it may be well for those who can the farmer-boy-his boots may be higher pol-envy the large wages of city mechanics to heed ished, and so may his manners,-(both are some- even these small leaks that so many of us find times injured by the process) and that on his quite sufficient to sink our ships. visits to his country friends he may display a free- Now, to put the result of our cogitations, thus and-easy bearing in company that is admired by far, into a sort of arithmetical statement, we will the ladies, and envied by the other sex who find allow our young house-keepers three dollars a themselves doomed to tread the "dull round their week for fires, lights, provisions, &c., two dollars fathers trod." and fifty cents a week for clothing, bedding, furBut folks are not always young, not always niture, utensils, &c., and, say, twelve dollarṣ a single. In both city and country, matrimony year for pew-rent and two for use of library, and seems to be as much in the course of nature, as for lectures,-making no allowance for a "hole in the rheumatism or old age. The city mechanic the pocket" that is so often found by the temptawith his ten dollars a week marries; and a most tions of a city, none for theatres or concerts, none favorable supposition-let him choose a country for cigars, and we have, girl for his wife; one who was brought up to similar habits of economy with himself. Overpersuaded by the advice of city friends, they commence life by "boarding out. Six dollars and a half a week, leave three and a half for clothing, firewood, lights, &c. They soon find this will not do. They must keep house. Several half days are lost in "house-hunting," and the happy pair find themselves established in their humble home. Before taking this result as the basis of a comEstablished? Have they bought the tenement parison of the relative profits of city mechanics they occupy, and mutually resolved to take hold and country farmers, several questions arise for and pay for it as quickly as possible, so that their discussion. Do all city mechanics get as much as home though homely may soon be their own ten dollars a week? Do not some get more? Do Nothing of the kind. City journeymen seldom their families always consist of only two members? think of such a thing. They have hired it-hired Are they ever sick, or out of work? Is their rent it for a month! Ten dollars a month for bare ever raised, or their pay cut down? Do they ever rooms to live in; but every body says it is very move, despite the caution of Franklin, that three cheap. Many who have no larger wages pay one removes are as bad as a fire? These questions hundred and fifty, two hundred, two hundred and can probably be answered by those who have the twenty-five, fifty, seventy-five, and even three hun- patience to read this article, as well as I shall do dred dollars a year. Here then they have fairly "begun the world." the Farmer. it if I make the attempt in a future number of A CITY MECHANIC. Every thing has been "put to rights." The car-l Boston, April, 1854.

59

Dr.

For rent of rooms, per year....

For provisions, &c.

For clothing, &c.

[ocr errors]

For pew-rent, library, &c. "

By wages at $10 per week...

Cr.

.$120,00

........

.156,00

..130,00

..14,00

$420,00

$520,00

..$100,00

Balance for a "rainy day".............

THE PROFIT OF FATTENING SWINE, The following facts are offered in corroboration of the views advanced in my late article on the profit of fattening swine in New England :—

For the New England Farmer. I regret that I did not have the pigs weighed on the 16th of December, because if I had done so it would be easy now to find how much more pork a bushel of corn ground, cooked and fed with the addition of the cob was in this case made; but On the 16th of December last, I purchased four from the weight of some of the better pigs of these from as exact an estimate as I can form, judging pigs which were the remnants of two litters born two litters, sold a few days previous to the time about the same time in September previous, and I bought mine, I am induced to think the pigs put them in warm apartments, embracing a place for making compost and an eating room each bushel of clear corn consumed; which, conmust have gained not far from 15 lbs. of pork for leading out of it. Once a fortnight or so during sidering that the fattening process was conducted the winter, about a cord of either muck or scrap during the very coldest portion of the year, argues ings from the woods was thrown into the pen, and daily the manure from two horses. The pigs pretty well for feeding corn and cob ground towere kept bountifully supplied with straw for gether. bedding, which they arranged in one corner of the compost pen to suit themselves. Enough fer- selecting pigs for fattening, that so far as I know, mentation was generated in the compost to make pigs of a round, barrel-like frame are apt to yield their bed warm, and so far to keep out frost that rather thin pork and too much offal; but those it only appeared in a light scum during the very as to lack bone to sustain them while fattening, having extra depth of carcase, and not so fine bred coldest days. The scrapings from the woods containing some nuts together with decayed sticks and roots, contributed to the health and thrift of the pigs.

From Dec 16th, to the 18th of March, the pigs had as much corn and cob-meal as they would readily eat, when it becoming inconvenient to accommodate them longer with apartments, they were sold to the butcher at 8c per lb.-he throw ing in the slaughtering.

Immediately after feeding them at a given time, the meal for the next feeding was measured out and put in the bucket and hot water added-the contents standing in a warm place to soak and swell, and becoming very much increased in bulk before being fed to the pigs. The meal consumed was exactly measured from day to day, and the quantity is known to be as follows::

I have briefly to add to my former remarks on

but of a just proportion in this regard, are the nor so coarse bred as to be too late in maturing, right kind for profit. Pigs bred too fine, early cripple in the legs when fed high, so that they are appetites and strong digestion, and therefore make unable to exercise sufficiently to promote healthy but light weight, and their pork is not generally that of younger pigs of the first quality. Pigs so saleable nor desirable for domestic purposes as look, are not so kindly to fatten as those of a mel with rough, staring bristles and a generally well low and wavy appearance and quiet disposition.

Brattleboro', March 28, 1854.

F. HOLBROOK.

PLANT THE FRUIT TREES.
Those who have the 4th volume of the Monthly

First 29 days four pigs ate 348 quarts, or 12 quarts per day. Farmer, are referred to the excellent Essay by Col.

Next 49
Next 15

[ocr errors]

66

882

[ocr errors]

18

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]
[merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][merged small]

Total corn and cob consumed 1566 quarts, or 49 bushels.

In order to satisfy myself of the amount of corn involved in the above 49 bushels of corn and cob

WILDER, on the varieties and preservation of fruit, on pages 194 and 195, and to the list given by selection of pears on page 225, and on page 241, Mr. FRENCH, of Braintree, on page 197; also to a

meal, I have measured out enough corn in the same volume for a list by Mr. JAQUES, of Worcesear to make, if shelled, just a bushel of corn, had ter. But for the convenience of those who cannot it cracked and ground, and found it made by make this reference, we give selections from the stricked measure a little more than two bushels lists of these gentlemen.

of corn and cob-meal. An inferior quality of corn in the ear might not quite hold out measure when ground; but I am satisfied that a full medium quality will hold out, where the toll is paid in money, and shall therefore call the above 49 bushels of corn and cob equal to 244 bu. clear corn.

The four pigs weighed, dressed, 616 lbs., and made some 10 loads of compost more than would otherwise have been made. They may therefore be accounted with as follows:

616 lbs. of pork, a 8 c., net..

[blocks in formation]

.$49,28

Deduct 49 bu. corn and cob, or 244 bu. clear corn, a $1 per bushel..

Toll for grinding 49 bu. corn and cob, a 4 c. per bu...

.24,50

..1,96

Paid for pigs, Dec. 16th, $4 each..

[blocks in formation]

Balance, over and above $1 per bu. for corn

consumed, of 28 c. per bu., or in all... And the pigs have left 10 loads of compost, worth a bushel of corn each..... From which deduct, if you please, the cost of supplying the raw material, say 50 c. per load, which is rather too high..

[blocks in formation]

Profit on the four pigs....

[blocks in formation]

Louise Bonne de Jersey,

Golden Beurre of Bilboa.

Fameuse,

Hubbardston Nonsuch,
Roxbury Russet.

For Winter Sweet Apples:
Seaver Sweet,

Danvers Winter Sweet,

PEARS.

Tolman's Sweet,

Lyman Sweet.

For twelve varieties, add:
Andrews,

Belle Lucrative,
Seckle,

Flemish Beauty,

Urbaniste,

Glout Morceau.

PEACHES.

For three sorts:
Early York (serrated foliage,)

Crawford's early,

For six sorts, add:
Large Early York,
George Fourth,

Crawford's Late.

MR. FRENCH'S LIST.

For the New England Farmer. ILLINOIS FARM IMPLEMENTS. As the best early apple, Mr. FRENCH recommends MR. EDITOR:-A leader of the New York Tribthe Early Harvest. The best apple is the WhiteSeek-no-further. If he had but one apple tree, he une supposes a plow with other than a cast iron mould board, to be a curiosity now-a-days. Now would prefer the R. I. Greening. The best sweet without much humility, and as a corn grower of apple is the Seaver. For two varietes, he recom- twelve years standing, in Suckerdom, I am free to mends the Porter and Rhode Island Greening. say that I have never seen a cast iron mould board For the four best summer varieties, the Harvest, plow in use in Illinois; yet we do some plowing Red Astrachan, Williams Favorite, and Summer here. I propose giving a list and description of the implements I have in use for working the soil. Pearmain. Four best autumn varieties, Porter, Fameuse, Gravenstein, and St. Lawrence. Best drawn by four yoke of oxen and cutting a slice five winter varieties, R. I. Greening, White-Seeekno-further, Baldwin, Roxbury Russet, and True Nonsuch. The best apple for stewing is the Haw

thornder.

If he could have but one cherry, it would be Downer's Late Red; the best of all cherries is the Knight's Black Eagle. The earliest cherry that is prolific is the May Duke-the latest the Late

I use, in the first place, the "Breaking Plow,"

twenty inches wide and two deep, or an inch and a half if quite level. The plow is 40 inches on the bar, 34 on the edge of wing, is provided with rolling cutter, and for mould-board is provided with 4 rods placed one above the other at intervals of 3 to 4 inches, thus saving much friction and weight, breaking 24 acres per day. Next in order is the cast steel plow, with wrought iron bar, and cast iron upright; the wing and mouldboard of cast steel from 3 to 4 of an inch thick, Duke. cutting a furrow 15 inches wide, and from 3 to 7 The Green Gage he considered the best of plums inches deep, as is required. The entire plow If one plum is to be selected, he would prefer weighs 60 lbs., and can be held with ease by a Prince's Imperial Gage; for two, add Smith's boy ten years old. For a span of horses weighing 2200 or 2400 lbs., 34 acres is a fair day's work. Orleans; for three, Coe's Golden Drop. My harrow is an old-fashioned triangle frame with 19 teeth; a little behind the age.

NAME.

GEORGE JAQUES' LIST.

PEARS ON QUINCE.

1. Beurre d'Amalis....

2. Louise Bonne de Jersey.

3. Urbaniste...

4. Duchesse d'Angouleme.... 5. Beurre Diel..

6. Glout Morceau......

[blocks in formation]
[blocks in formation]

We observe that in the above lists the old St. Michael is omitted. When in perfection, this pear is scarcely excelled by any that grows; or, at any rate, by only three or four varieties. Of late years, we are told that it has succeeded quite

For sowing small grain, I use a machine running on two wheels and drawn by one horse, sowing ten feet wide each passing and 20 acres per day. For marking up corn ground the first way I use a sled with 4 runners, 3 feet long 4 feet apart, and drawn by two horses; 30 acres is a day's work. Then with the "corn planter" drawn by a span of horses, with a boy to ride on the machine, and handle the tricker, and a hand to guide the team, 2 rods at a time are furrowed, crossed and covered, and 15 acres are planted per day.

The next is the "Cuitivator" used when the corn is small; then the "Tending Plows" of cast steel, and "rights and lefts" which we run by pairs. They cut a ten inch furrow in width, are rigged with one handle each, and one horse attached to each plow, but the plows are not attached to each other at all, only the horses are attached to each other by a double rein, such as are used always in driving a span, which the plowman puts under one arm and over the other shoulder, while he holds one plow in each hand. One horse and plow are upon either side of the row of corn, it passing under the plowman's right arm, as he extends it to the opposite side of the row to hold the right hand plow. Thus 7 or 8 acres are plowed a day, (one row being plowed at each passing) and 45 acres to the hand for the season.

I have used the "Pairs" or "Rights and Lefts" for four years, thereby doubling the amount of corn raised with the same labor, so far as tending is concerned. HENRY W. MERRIAM. Little Town, Tazewell Co., Ill. Feb., 28, 1854.

THE COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, Albany, N. Y. Luwell in many localities. In setting even one dozen THER TUCKER, Publisher. There is not, in our of trees, we should certainly include the St. Mi- opinion, a more valuable agricultural journal in chael,-known also as the White Doyenne, Vir- the country than the one with the title above. Its galieu, Butter Pear, &c. views are sound and clearly expressed. The paper

« ÎnapoiContinuă »