the roots and earth could be taken up with the this is but one among the many such books that tree; but this could seldom be done in this vi- have been given to the public from time to time, cinity. Hence the practice of heading in, that by the same enterprising publisher, C. M. Saxis, of cutting off a portion from the extremities ton, of New York, who has become not a little of all the principal branches, which would pre- noted as a publisher of agricultural and scientific vent that violent shock to the tree, and cause it works. In closing, let me advise all your readto put forth new and healthy shoots, and give a ers to purchase a copy, and I assure you and symmetrical form to the tree, was recommended them, that they will find their money has been well expended.

as the better course.

Other remarks were made, by different members, on these and other topics, which will give your readers an idea of what we are doing, and how we do it. The result of last year's operations has been to cause more fruit trees to be transplanted than in all the previous history of the town.

Newton Centre, Feb. 14, 1855.

J. F. C. H.

For the New England Farmer. RAISING APPLE TREES.

MR. EDITOR-Observing in the January number of the New England Farmer an article under the head, "How long it takes to get Apples," I am induced to send you the results of my own

As the ideas advanced here are new to us, perhaps they may need modifying or confirming by those of your readers who have had more experi- experiments. ence than a two year old society. Bethel, Me., Jan. 24, 1855.

N. T. TRUE.

REMARKS.—These are the plans of operation which are preparing the way for higher modes of culture, and for more thorough means of instruction, both in the theory and practice of agriculture. Success to your noble enterprize.

In the fall of 1845 I planted with my own hand some pomace. The next spring the seeds came up finely, and by the last of August had grown to such a size, that with the exception of one, I budded the whole of them. That one was so large in its growth, so smooth, so straight, its leaf so handsome, that I was sure it would produce a good natural fruit. The buds did well, the trees the next season grew nobly, and in four years from the bud I began to have fruit. Last year a good many of the trees, which were transplanted when three years old, bore finely. In transplanting them I took pains to have large and MR. EDITOR:-Though this is emphatically a deep holes, which I filled with compost and good book-making and reading age, when books are soil; so that at this time, the trees have attained published and sold, not by thousands, but by hun- a size and thrifty appearance which makes my dreds of thousands, yet it is equally true, that young orchard one of the best I have ever seen of the great majority of books that come from the its age.

For the New England Farmer.
A GOOD BOOK.

AMASA WALKER.

fertile and swiftly-flying presses, are not fit to be I had the opinion formerly that it was the read; and it is refreshing to find a new work work of a life to get an orchard from the seed, that we can with truth call good. Such I believe but I have found out to the contrary, and as there the "American Muck Book," by Dr. J. Browne, is great pleasure in rearing our own trees, I would to be. It is one of the best of the kind, (and the recommend to every one who has opportunity to kind is good,) I have ever seen; it is written in make the trial, at least on a small scale. such a style that he who runs-if he reads-may In regard to the one tree I left unbudded, it understand; and evidently by one who is au fait proved, as I expected, a good fruit, fair, of suffiof all matters pertaining to agricultur 1 chemis- cient size, ripening late in the fall. try. Every topic is treated in a clear and concise In the whole I raised several hundred trees, of manner, and is worthy the attention of even that perhaps twenty varieties, so that the experiment class of farmers, who are apt to speak disparag-was sufficiently extensive to test its success. ingly of books. This one ought to be in the hands of every person who owns or cultivates a rod of land. It is calculated to do a great deal P. S.-According to my own observation, apple towards removing the prejudice that has existed against such books on account of being filled with trees should be transplanted within three or four "unpractical" matter, written in a strictly tech- years from the seed. If they are allowed to stand nical style. And here let me quote a few lines longer, they sustain more injury from removal. from the author's preface. "The design of the| I suppose I shall not be misunderstood as reAMERICAN MUCK BOOK, then, is not to present commending the planting of seeds as the quickest any novel or hitherto unheard-of theory or hy-must be aware that, other things being equal, way of getting a productive orchard. Every one pothesis in agriculture; but to collect, arrange; trees produce in quantity according to their age, and condense what men of experience and sound and if trees are set out seven or ten years old, judgment, both of ancient and modern times,

N. Brookfield, Jan. 29, 1855.

have already written upon the subject, embodied they will produce a larger quantity of apples in a in a simplified form, together with such facts and given time than could be got from the seed. observations as have come directly under the

notice of the author, and such as may safely be CUTTING ROOTS FOR SHEEP.-A correspondent recommended for general practice, treated of at of the Mark Lane Express says:-"It is a matter the same time in such a manner as shall come of impossibility for young sheep to eat the turnips within the comprehension of the working far- without being out. I am certain that they will mer who may have formed comparatively but not thrive so quickly, and I consider that one little acquaintance with chemical science.' And part out of three is lost. There is this difference

in cutting turnips and not cutting them: Suppose you put 100 sheep on turnips not cut and one pound of oil-cake; they will not do so well as 100 sheep put on turnips cut without any cake, neither will they be fit for the butcher so soon by two months. Let any one try it: they will find my remarks upon this matter quite true."

July last, being their first calves, in October, 14 good healthy plant in the hill sufficient, as it will lbs. of butter each per day; they were fed on produce larger squashes. When the plants begrass and bushel of roots each, per day. In Sep-gin to cover the ground, cut off all the runners tember, I sold a heifer four years old, which from the main vine except the one nearest the weighed 1080 lbs., dressed. She was Durham, root, as these will set first and produce the best. and native, and gave milk during the winter Not more than one or two squashes should be alprevious. This animal never ate a particle of lowed to grow on a vine. Soap suds or liquid meal after she was a calf. She was fed on grass manure is good for them while growing, being alone, with the exception of a few corn stocks, careful not to apply it too strong, or on the during the excessive drought in August. She was leaves.-Country Gentleman.

reared in the ordinary way, and was not an exception to our stock in general, possessing the same blood. Her weight on the 15th of June For the New England Farmer. last, was 1200 lbs., and on the 15th of SeptemSETTING OUT FRUIT TREES. ber she weighed 1560 lbs., having gained 360 lbs. There is little difference of opinion among in three months. This cow was a granddaughter nurserymen and fruit growers in regard to cerof Mr. Lothrop's bull "North American," (4253) tain important facts connected with the transEnglish Herd Book. A valuable acquisition has planting of trees. been made to the herd of this gentleman in the should be taken up carefully, as many roots reAll agree that young trees bull "Kirkleavington" 1st, (11640) which is a tru- tained as possible, and that the roots be kept ly noble animal, possessing great vigor and fine moist until placed again in the ground. All symmetry, and will prove of great benefit to all who agree, likewise, that, in setting out the trees, avail themselves of his services. This superb ani- great care should be taken to pulverize the soil mal was sired by Duke of Wellington, (3654,) and bring it directly in contact with every porwho was out of Oxford premium cow by Short- tion of the roots. But when it comes to the tail (2624)—his dam, Lady Barrington 3d, out of question of the proper time for transplanting Lady Barrington 2d, by Cleveland Ladd, (3407,) trees, there is some difference of opinion. and hence to trace his pedigree one step further, nurseryman will tell you that all seed fruit

his blood is

Short-tail out of Duchess (32) by Belvidere (1706.)

cow Oxford, out of Matchem cow by Duke of Cleveland (1937.) Lady Barrington (11) out of Lady Barrington by Belvidere (1706) Cleveland Ladd (3407) out of Matchem cow by Short-tail (2621.)

One

(apples, pears and quinces,) should be transplanted in the fall, and all stone fruit (peaches, plums, cherries, &c.,) in the Spring. Another will tell you that all fruit should be transplanted It will then be seen that he is full in the best belief that spring is the best time. So many cirin the fall, and another is quite as earnest in the blood of the herd of the late Thomas Bates, of cumstances of season, of soil, of climate, and of Kirkleavington, England, as any bull in this subsequent treatment, enter into the culture of country, except two or three whose dams were fruit trees, that these conflicting views are scarcely Duchess cows, and imported at a cost of more than five thousand dollars each. B. SUMNER. Woodstock, Ct.

to be wondered at. Nevertheless, the w.iter of this believes that the great preponderance of testimony will be found in favor of fall transplanting for all kinds of fruit trees. No good reason has CULTIVATION OF SQUASHES. yet been given why stone fruit should be affected John McKee, of Bristol, Vt., who raised the differently from seed fruit, by fall transplanting. large squashes mentioned in the last volume of It may be that the peach, which is scarcely hardy the Country Gentleman, page 330, has kindly enough for some of our winters, is injured somefurnished us with his method of cultivation, as times by the harder freezing of the ground where follows: it has been disturbed in the fall; but the easy

As soon as the ground is warm enough to in- remedy for this is the covering of the roots with sure quick germination, I dig, on a southern ex- a greater depth of earth than is intended shall posure, holes two feet deep, and two feet apart remain upon them, thereby shielding them from each way, excluding the bottom soil and retain- the too greater severity of the frost. (a.) In ing the top. The holes should be filled within fact, it will be found much to the advantage of ten inches of the top with well-rotted hog or sta- all trees transplanted in the fall, to heap around ble manure; the former I prefer. The holes them a mound of earth which will be sufficient should then be filled up with the top soil taken to turn off the water occasioned by melting snow, out, and be allowed to remain three or four days and to keep the wind and frost from displacing till the hills are thoroughly warmed before plant- them.

ing the seed. Care should be taken to plant the It is customary with some farmers to stock seeds at the proper depth to insure their coming down their young orchards with grass the first, up-in a warm, dry soil, from two to three inches; second, or third year after the trees are set out, in a cold, wet soil from one to two inches deep. and let them take their chance with the browsing As soon as the plants appear above the sur- of cattle in winter. Money thus invested is worse face, place four bricks, blocks of wood or a small than thrown away. Trees, especially on our old box large enough to place a pane of glass upon; lands, will not grow with the roots bound down this will force them along rapidly, and protect under a crop of grass. (b.) The frequent stirring them from the depredations of the bugs, &c. of the soil is absolutely essential to the growth They should be watered once a day, till large and development of the tree. There are very few enough to dispense with a covering, being care- soils so poor that they will not grow fruit trees, ful not to apply cold spring water, or at a time if kept well stirred up with the plow, the cultiwhen the sun shines upon them. Morning or vator, or the hoe. In fact, those who have been evening should be set apart for this. I think one most successful in the cultivation of fruit for

E. C. P.

market, are of opinion that barn-yard manure is jured. In fact, it is better to break or disby no means requisite to the speedy growth of place a root occasionally, than to permit the soil wood fibre; and the writer of this has grown to become hard, sod-bound, or overrun with apple and pear trees quite as fast as they ought weeds. to grow on a hard and gravelly soil, with no other manure than compost, placed in the hills of corn and potatoes planted among the trees.

Somerville.

REMARKS.-(a.) If it can be made convenient The stirring of the earth, in hoeing the crops, to transplant peach trees in the spring, we should was much better for the trees than any possible

amount of manure would have been, if left lying recommend that season.

So far as our observa

dormant with the soil. (c.) On no account tion and practice extend, the spring has been whatever should stable manure be brought in found the most favorable. We regret our inadirect contact with the roots of trees. Its inva- bility to give a reason for this, more than the riable tendency is to canker them. If such ma

nure must be used, let it be upon the surface of simple fact.

the grour d, whence its juices will find their way

(b.) The roots of young trees will turn away down to the roots quite as fast as is good for from grass, though it may be two or three feet them. But a better way is to dispense with distant, if on another side the land be mellow stable manure entirely, and mulch the trees, and rich.

during both summer and winter, with straw,

litter from the barn-yard, potato tops, small (c.) In our opinion, there is no mistake on the brush, or even shavings. These substances keep farm so prominent as that of neglecting to stir the ground loose, and at the same time impart to the soil sufficiently often. It is to this fact that it that constant vegetable decay, which is essen- wheat, when sown in drills and hoed, often protial to the formation of fibrous wood. Swamp duces more than double the number of bushels per muck and peat muck are also cxcellent substances

old.

to place around fruit trees, whether young or acre of that sown broadcast, and the soil not touched afterward. "Stir the soil-stir the soil"It is also important that judgment should be ought to be inscribed on the trees and gate posts exercised in the trimming of fruit trees. Some wherever the farmer goes. Why should the permit them to grow with suckers at the roots and on the limbs, and others cut and slash away memory of WATT and FULTON be cherished more as though all a tree had to do was to grow itself than that of JETHRO TULL? If the farmers of the away from the knife. Both these extremes are world would but avail themselves of his teachings to be avoided. When the tree is transplanted, and faithfully stir the soil, benefits as great would about as much should be cut from the limbs as flow from it as have ever been conferred by steam. will correspond with the loss of roots; and the tree should be slightly trimmed from year to

(d.) We regret that our correspondent did not

For the New England Farmer. ON PRUNING.

year thereafter, as it developes its suckers or state what season he considers the most proper superabundant wood; but on no account should for pruning. the larger limbs be severed, unless they are in some way diseased. They may be headed in, if inclined to grow so as to give an awkward appearance to the tree; but the severing of large limbs cannot fail to shorten life. In such matters MR. EDITOR: - The excellent remarks of WILas these, the better way is, never to listen to the LIAM D. BROWN, in your January number, are suggestions or extravagant opinions of those whose more to the point than I have ever seen. I have knowledge is in inverse ratio to their practical ex- tried all seasons for pruning, and have come to perience, but to pursue that judicious course the conclusion that the best time to prune is imwhich every man's common sense will suggest, if mediately after gathering the fruit. he will but take the trouble to think upon the or- I would trim or prune cherry trees in July; dinary rules which govern vegetable life. (d.) plum trees in September; peach trees in the fall; In some cases trees are set out, and a few feet of quince trees in October; apple and pear trees soil around their bodies kept in a mellow condi- when the fruit is gathered. Those that ripen tion, while the grass sward occupies the remain-early I would prune early, and those that ripen der of the field. This is wrong. It is the earth at late should be pruned in October, By so doing

the extremities of the roots which needs to be we escape any injury to the bark, and there is no kept loose, that they may extend themselves in fear of the sap oozing out, and the wounds grow every direction from the tree. In order to ascernearly over the first season. We also avoid cracktain the difference between these two modes of ing, which often occurs in the winter pruning. cultivation, the writer of this, last spring, pur is the best time to remove them. All trees should Suckers can be removed at any time, but the fall chased at auction a dozen small peach trees. Half

were set in ground planted with potatoes, and the be so trimmed and trained as to allow teams to other moiety in grass land, where the soil and pass under them, and also to prevent cattle from sod were only disturbed sufficiently to give place browsing the limbs.

Yours truly,

S. A. SHURTLEFF.

to the trees. The former more than doubled their size, while the latter scarcely grew at all. It may be safely set down as a rule, that land CURE FOR BURNS.-The American Agriculdevoted to fruit is in no danger of being too turist says, "Of all applications for a burn, we often or too thoroughly cultivated, provided the believe there are none equal to a simple covering roots of the trees are not broken or otherwise in- of common wheat flour. This is always at hand,

and while it requires no skill in using, it pro- amount of those absorbed by the flour, the thicker duces almost astonishing effects. The moisture the protective covering. Another advantage of produced upon the surface of a slight or deep the flour covering is, that next to the surface burn, is at once absorbed by the flour, and forms it is kept moist and flexible. It can also be readily a paste which shuts out the air. As long as the washed off, without further irritation in removfluid matters,continue flowing, they are absorbed, ing. It may be occasionally washed off very careand thus prevented from producing irritation, as fully when it has become matted and dry, and a they would do if kept from passing off by oily new covering be sprinkled on."

or resinous applications, while the greater the

This implement was patented July 25, 1854, ture, by bringing it into perfect and close contact by CHARLES A. WAKEFIELD, of Plainfield, Mass., with the soil under and around it, while the earth and the inventor says, "is designed for planting falling loosely over, cannot obstruct the coming corn, broom-corn seeds, beans, and similar seeds. up and growth of the blade. It is carried and used (as represented in the above "The Planter is simple in construction, not liengraving) as a cane or walking-stick, requiring able to get out of repair, and weighs about seven no delay and no additional motion and effort. Is pounds, and costs the farmer only five dollars, adapted for planting in rocky and uneven ground, which price he can afford to pay, if used only for and in all kinds of soil. Is easily adjusted to planting in a common garden. With this impleplant at any desired depth, and to drop any re- ment one acre of corn can be planted in the most quired number of seeds in a hill. perfect manner in one hour."

"The method or mode by which the seed is We have examined the implement described planted with the Planter is new, and it is believed above, with considerable care, and have practiced possesses advantages over every other, not only in extensively with it on the carpet; and it seems to facility of use, but in hastening germination.- us to combine the requisite qualifications for doThe seed is forced by pressure obliquely from the ing the work well. Many of our best farmers do surface of the ground to the required depth, thus not think it objectionable-but, on the contrary, ensuring the immediate absorption of the mois- favorable-to drop the kernels of corn quite close