For the New England Farmer. nest, each of the old birds taking care of one-the supposition being that they would fight if allowed to remain together. In corroboration of this someDoes green corn, when fed to cows, increase their what singular idea, I can only say, I never found milk? This is a point on which different opinions two of the young birds in company, and a pair are entertained by practical men. I yesterday met which I had caused a hen to hatch, fought from the a gentleman, who has one of the best farms in the time they left the shell, till, in fact, they killed each vicinity, on which fifty or more cows have been kept other outright. for years, to furnish a supply of milk for the mar- The bird is easily domesticated. I kept one for ket; and he expressed a confident opinion that lit- several years, who showed all the attachment and tle or no benefit, by way of increasing the milk, ac- intelligence of a dog. He never forgot a friend or crued from feeding to cows green corn. I expressed forgave an injury. If any one had abused him, it surprise at this, as I knew it to be cultivated by was of no avail to attempt disguise; he recognized many good farmers for this purpose, and as I had his enemy in any dress, and by an angry croak showoften seen it recommended in agricultural publica- ed his displeasure, and warned them to keep out of tions. He said he knew all this-but still his own his reach. He was a great gormandizer, and was experience was to the contrary. Now this is a question that should be settled. It is of far more cola,) many of which he destroyed, being quite exvery fond, among other things, of field mice, (Arviconsequence to know whether such feed is worth growing, than to know how much corn can be pert at finding their nests, and searching out the inmates with his long bill. He would have been of We find every agricultural so- service in the garden, were it not for his inquisitive ciety of the land offering premiums for the best propensities, which led him to pull up for examinacrops of corn on an acre, but I have never known a tion everything he saw us plant. Though a desire premium offered to test the value of green corn as for knowledge might be very laudible, this mode of a feed for milch cows, at the season of the year obtaining it met our disapprobation, and eventually when the feed of pastures comes short. Mr. Edi- caused his banishment. tor, can you give the public any light on this question ? Yours truly, grown on an acre. August 16, 1855. AGRICOLA. Though a migratory bird, he did not seem to suffer from cold in the winter, and being fond of wading, even kept a place in a neighboring slough free from ice till late in the season, by tramping about REMARKS.-We have never made note of the ac-in it. I provided him with a warm house, but he tual quantities of milk produced with, and without preferred to sleep with the cows. He always slept green corn fodder; but we should just as soon beside one of them, lying flat on his breast, with his doubt whether green grass increased the quantity legs folded under him, and his head and long neck of milk, as to doubt that green corn fodder does. At the same time, we have great deference for the opinion of others, who have opportunity to notice the effect of such feeding, and whose opinions are, perhaps, as good as our own. DANCING CRANES. A correspondent of the Prairie Farmer, writing from "The Grove, Illinois," gives the following interesting description of the Brown Sand Hill Crane: turned back between his wings. He was on good terms with all the cattle, and might frequently be seen playing with them; his part of the performance consisting in springing up, flapping his wings, and whooping tremendously. This was precisely the same as the dancing of his wild brethren. He would also dance to the waving of a handkerchief; and on windy washing-days sometimes danced for hours at a time to the clothes on the line. When much enraged, he would stand with his head and bill pointed directly upward, and utter a harsh, croaking sound, quite unlike his usual whoop. A young crane makes no despicable article of food. The old ones, I should suppose, would be Many of these noble birds still nest in this vici- rather tough and snaky; but an old Indian hunter nity, but their number is small compared with the of my acquaintance says, "A turkey is not half as numerous flock that a few years since might be good eating." seen holding their strange dances on some favorite Audubon supposed this to be only the young of knoll, or feeding, while their sentinels, judiciously the White Crane, but he was wrong. The White posted, stood ready to give warning of any suspi- Crane, (Grus Americana) is more of a southern cious intruder. bird, and exceedingly rare here. I saw a pair flySome are incredulous as to the dancing of cranes. ing over this fall for the first time. These two speIt is true, their movements are not as graceful as a cies are amongst the largest and finest of our North Frenchman's, or their quadrilles quite a la mode, but American birds. dance they certainly do. As for their music, though lacking the harmony, it is about as loud and melo- THE DECAY OE TIMBER.-Some years ago, a phidious as a fashionable opera air. losopher, being acquainted with the fact that every The Sand Hill Crane is omniverous, devouring species of fungus, which is the real source of the rot pretty much anything eaten by birds. The nest is in timber, can vegetate only on substances which a simple pile of rushes or grass-flat on the top, are soluble in water, made the following experibuilt in some deep slough or pond. The eggs, two ment with sawdust. He took a portion of sawdust in number, are shaped much like those of the from a heap, and divided it into two equal parts. common turkey, of a light amber color, splashed One heap was washed over and over again in water, with brown. The nest is usually surrounded by till everything soluble was removed; the other deep water, but the young birds swim readily, and heap was undisturbed. Both, having been dried, leave it as soon as hatched. It is believed by many were placed, side by side, in a damp, close vault, and that they separate, immediately upon leaving the allowed to remain there several weeks. They were NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 469 at length taken out, and the following was the re- it is an August and September apple. Unless my sult:-that portion which was washed until nothing tree shows something better another year, I shall more could be carried off by water, remained clean regraft it. Is there any living man well acquainted and bright as when it was carried into the vault: with this fruit, now Mr. Cole is departed? the unwashed portion had become the prey of foul parasites, and was completely imbedded in an offen THE GARDEN ROYAL sive mass of mould. This experiment proved the Is a very delicious September apple, and though theory of the philosopher, and convinced him, that, hardly large enough to be considered a first-rate if by any means our timber of any sort could be de-market apple, it has no rival while in the field. It prived of all those matters contained in it which are sells rapidly at an extra price. Though not so large soluble in water, it could be kept any number of as the Gravenstein or the Porter, neither so firm years entirely free from rot. For the New England Farmer. THE MAGNOLIA. nor so handsome, it must be a favorite wherever So called from the whiteness of its flesh,-is a This apple is the one which the late Mr. Cole in- brilliant gem among autumn apples, ripening in troduced. It is nearly unknown in this region, November; medium size, flattish, smooth and uni(coming from Bolton,) and I have not seen but two form in shape, with as high color as the Williams, persons who knew anything about it; namely, Mr. and purer flesh, it always attracts attention. It is Cole, and a dealer in fruit at the Quincy Market, very tender, pleasant and juicy, and in December who said it was the best apple he ever tasted. Large has the freshness and peculiar flavor of an August medial, sprightly and tender, pale yellow ground, apple. This fruit came from Canada, and is suited with crimson side. If any of the readers of the to cold regions. Farmer are acquainted with this fruit, I wish they would communicate upon it. Ripe in November. THE AMERICAN SUMMER PEARMAIN. THE RED ASTRACHAN D. W. L. W. Medford, Aug. 20. For the New England Farmer. BLIGHT UPON THE ONION. Is an apple which is attracting much attention at present, and for an August apple, will rival, if not A year ago last autumn, in September, I discov- which the latter fruit does not, though its flavor is not surpass, the Williams. It possesses some virtues ered an apple in Pleasant Street, Boston, which so mild and agreeable. It has a white,delicate ground, greatly excited my interest. a barrelfull of a countryman for three dollars, but lar to a red plum. It is a good grower, and an earA grocer had bought mostly covered with vermillion, with a bloom simiwas not informed of their name. were large to very large, rather flat, with a broad and rots more rapidly than the Williams. Most of them ly bearer; but a little too tart for most persons, basin, yellow ground, nearly covered with dark red. They were generally fair and uniform in shape, and would have created a sensation on the Massachusetts Horticultural Society's tables. They were tender, very pleasant and juicy, with white flesh, and many of them had numerous dark blotches, and some of them were slightly cracked. So interested About four weeks since I had occasion to pass was I in this splendid apple, that I was determined, some of the fine cultivated fields of onions, that if possible, to find out its name. I accordingly abound in this vicinity, when they were clothed in a pocketed some, and took the liberty of calling on luxuriant green; since then I have seen the same many eminent fruit judges in the city; but strange fields almost white, with tops drooping and fallen— to say, no one could tell what it was. Last fall, I with bottom not yet perfected. The occasion of discovered another barrel of them, or what I sup- this sudden change I do not understand; but learn posed to be the same; yet they were of lighter color from those interested, that their crop is blighted; and were less blotched. The fruit-dealer did not that whenever the blight prevails, the product will know what they were, and I determined to make be greatly diminished. Whether this fallen, defurther inquiry. To be brief, I found a nursery-crepid appearance, is the consequence of insect opman who suspected it was the American Summer erations, or superabundance of moisture, or is ocPearmain; and looking into Cole's Fruit Book, I casioned by any peculiar state of the atmosphere, recognized it, I thought, in his description. This I will not presume to say; but that it prevails, to a apple is so rare and beautiful, that it deserves an very considerable extent, cannot be denied. extended notice from some one who has cultivated it in New England. New Jersey is the place of its origin, and Mr. Cole says it cracks badly with us. Do cultivators of it here find it to be so? COLE'S QUINCE We have noticed contiguous fields, one drooping, the other upright; and parts of the same field fallen and parts not fallen; but how to explain this difference is not in our power. Perhaps if we had marked the time of planting, and the manner of manuring, and the use made of the field in years Is an apple which makes a great figure in Cole's previous-the solution of the problem would not American Fruit Book, and will probably be much have been so difficult. sought after on his recommendation. I have a tree have seen-if others can tell more, we should be We speak of only what we which bore about a dozen this year, but they did not pleased to know it. meet my expectations. Most of them are knotty The culture of the onion has expanded, within our and wormy, and show no indications of ever being recollection, almost without limit; and if, like most fit to eat; and though the tree sets full, most of the other objects of culture, it is to be regulated by the fruit falls prematurely. Mr. Hovey has it in his profits of the business, it is destined to a still greatcatalogue, and calls it a winter fruit; while in fact, er extension. G. F. N. We know of no section of the country, where it by the absorbent vessels taking too much of their is more successfully pursued, at the present time, poison into the system. Who would dare cover than in the environs of Salem, Mass. Here are to himself with mercurial ointment, or arsenic and be seen, fields of six, eight or ten acres together, lard? I pause for a reply." under the care of the same individual, with the prospect of four or five hundred bushels to the acre. The LOCUSTS-GARGET-NEW PROLIFIC WHITE POTATO. average price of this vegetable, for the last ten years, has been as harvested from the field, not less MR. EDITOR-I snatch a moment from the hurthan fifty cents per bushel—and so on to one dollar, ry of business to reply to a few inquiries in the Faraccording to the demand. More than 200,000 mer for August. Locusts made their appearance in bushels were grown the last year in a single town Sandwich last June. I have two pairs, male and adjoining Salem. Can any one name a more pro- female, upon a card labelled "Locusts of July 1st, ductive article of culture? 1855, due again in 1872;" they appeared in con It may be asked, where is the utility of growing siderable numbers, but in East Wareham, very few this crop, as it cannot be looked upon as an essen- compared with 1821. In 1838, I was in the "Far tial article of food for man or beast? With much West," and do not know as they appeared in this more propriety may it be asked where is the pro- section. priety of growing tobacco, as done on the fine lands Some one, for garget, recommends linseed oil as on the borders of the Connecticut-which in all its a sure cure. It may cure in some cases, as oils are qualities is positively bad. Still, so long as there is sometimes used with success in local inflammations; a demand for these things in the market, they will but in using linseed oil for garget, there is great be grown; and less harm will follow the growing danger of driving the disease into the entire sysof the salutary onion, than the nauseating and poi- tem, and greatly injuring the cow. Upon the first sonous tobacco plant-too offensive to be used by appearance of garget, carefully and thoroughly wash any animal except man. EXTRACTS AND REPLIES. RED-HEADED GRUBS. the udder and teats with pure cold water, both before and after putting the calf to the cow, or milking; milk three times a day, or at least wash that number of times; and in a very short time your cow will be free from the disease. I have never MR. EDITOR: -I should like to learn through known this treatment to fail of curing, even in cases the columns of your invaluable paper, whether there where the udder and teats had become badly ulceris a remedy for the red-headed grubs which are de-ated. stroying whole fields of grass? They eat off the In reply to the inquiry of JAMES RICHARDSON, roots of the grass, so that the turf will peel off. It seems that the better the land is cultivated, the more worms there are. This worm is called by some the muck worm. J. P. REMARKS.—No depredations of this kind are going on in this section, and if so, where they are on so general a scale, nothing that we could afford to apply would be likely to arrest them. Will our correspondent try ashes on a square rod, spread on liberally? and on another lime, noting the amount of each that he applies? We shall be glad to learn the result. Jr., I have a new variety of white potatoes that are much more prolific than peach-blows, that I have tried and proved for, I think, about eight years. Two years since I was absent from home from Dewhich time these potatoes were sold or otherwise cember to the last of the following July, during disposed of, much to my disappointment and regret. However, there sprang up a potato vine in my garden, which was then uncultivated, which throve well; and in the fall I dug the potatoes, and to my cherished seed. By referring to minutes of last surprise, and satisfaction, found them to be of my year, I find that with this seed I planted about twenty hills. My potatoes last fall were harvested in my absence, and every variety of white potatoes put together. This spring I found time to search This pest may easily be removed from any crea-out my favorite seed, and have planted 318 hills; ture in an hour's time by washing or lathering thor- the largest were cut into three pieces, two pieces to oughly with good soft-soap and soft water. About the hill; the small, of the size of hens' eggs, planttwo quarts of each thoroughly mixed and warmed, ed whole, two to a hill. Their flavor and the color will, if well applied, kill every louse, and every egg of their flesh is similar to pink eyes or peach blows. will be prevented from maturing on any animal, There is so marked a distinction between them and whether horse or ox. This is a perfect and a safe any other variety known to me, that I could, after remedy. If very troublesome, it is frequently best they have sprouted, pick them out in the dark from to "soft-soap" them the second time, after the first any others. I call them Cape Cod. has become dry. After the second drying, wash out the soap with water in plenty, and you need fear no bad effects from it, but on the contrary, the creature will thrive the better, colts especially. LICE ON CATTLE. The above application is worth five dollars to every colt, whether lousy or not, before putting off to pasture in the spring. It should be done in a warm day. North Sandwich, 1855. SUPERPHOSPHATES. MORTIUS. What is the effect in applying De Burg's superphosphate of lime, and have it come in contact with lime or wood ashes? S. E. R. REMARKS Superphosphate of lime as sold for agricultural purposes, is a combination of substan Tobacco, snuff, oil, mercurial preparations, ashes, sulphur, and many like things, are generally resorted to, and even arsenic is sometimes used. If either ces, some of which might be affected by coming in is applied in sufficient quantities to produce a per- contact with quick-lime or ashes. As a general fect cure, the health of the animal must be impaired rule, it is best to use them separately. TO MAKE BARREN QUINCE TREES FRUITFUL. For the New England Farmer. SPECULATIVE INQUIRIES. MR. EDITOR: :- - In answer to the inquiry, what can be done to make barren quince trees fruitful, I would say, that my method is to graft them. The MR. EDITOR:-Your correspondent from Chelsea grafts will bear the second year, and then you will seems to be moved with a horror inexpressible, at have an abundance of fruit. Besides, you can select my reference to "Orion and the Pleiades" as influthe best of fruits, which is an advantage. encing vegetation. If my recollection is right, my But some say that oyster shells have the desired reference to these beautiful heavenly bodies was effect. I think if there is any virtue in them to make the barren fruitful, it is the salt, and if so, the salt alone will produce the same effect, and may be obtained with less trouble. P. WAIT. Danvers, Aug., 1855. simply to show the folly of scriptural citations, in the explanation of natural events. Not that I for a moment entertained the belief of any such influences. He thinks we had better wait a "little longer," and see what further facts will be developed. This may be so, but would not such waiting put a stop to all inquiry? Have not I the same right to deSaturate a piece of cotton cloth, eight or ten has mine? He, and all other controversialists, nounce his opinions as "supremely ridiculous," as he inches wide, in strong soap suds, and tie around the should bear in mind, that those who live in glass houses should be careful how they throw stones. CURCULIO REMEDY. tree below where the limbs start out. The fruit of trees which I have served thus is entirely free from Halifax, N. S., 1855. BARREN PLUM TREES. Your intimation that the ebbing and flowing of the tides may be caused otherwise than by the attraction of the sun and moon, is well calculated to admonish the sage philosopher of Chelsea that there are more ways than one to accomplish the same end. It had not before occurred to me, that the In reply to C. G. W., in the July number of the theory of the tides, which I learned when young Farmer, in relation to barren quince trees, I would from Enfield, was not well-founded; but I should say that plum trees, in the like state of barrenness, not be surprised to learn, that the daily revolution can be brought to bearing successfully, by applying of the earth upon its axis, and the inequalities upon a few quarts of salt around the roots, put on in the its surface, have quite as much to do in producing fall. Northfield, Vt. H. B. H. BROWN, Foxboro', Mass.-The apples you sent are probably seedlings, though it resembles Lyman's Large Summer apple, introduced to notice by Mr. S. Lyman, of Manchester, Conn. Being early, and of a sprightly sub-acid flavor, it is worthy of cultivation. For the New England Farmer. the constantly recurring phenomena of the tides; EARTHING UP CELERY. A box of Grapes, of J. FISKE, Holliston, Mass. The present season has been a favorable one for Very large, and a month earlier than usual. Mr. celery, as indeed it has for most crops, and celery Fiske states that the vine covers a space of fifty will no doubt be fine and plentiful. Where only feet over the cow-yard, thus preventing the manure sufficient is grown for the supply of the family, a little extra care should be given to earthing up, from drying, and affording a fine shade for the cows. which is amply repaid by having clear sticks, nicely Early Sweet Bough Apples, from ABEL COOK, blanched. For very early use a small portion should Lunenburg, Mass.-Large and beautiful. There be commenced as soon as large enough to draw are not half enough of them produced. earth to without fear of its getting into the crown, which should be carefully guarded against. The bulk of the crop will be better left till towards the end of September before earthing. If any manure water is obtainable before earthing, it is much benThe forebodings of the last week are realities of efited by having a good soaking, especially if the the present week. Unequivocal demonstration has ground is any way poor, as it likes a very rich soil. come to us from Swampscot, on the one side, and In earthing, careful growers always go along first Beverly, on the other, of the fatal prevalence of the with the hand, and pull off any little short leaves rot among the potatoes. The chenangoes are most that would, if buried, only rot, and draw the earth affected. We would caution against the use of po- nicely about each plant. A portion of the soil is tatoes that have a tendency to the disease. We then loosened up with the spade and made tolerahave known entirely families taken with severe in- bly fine, and pushed up towards the plants. If they disposition, by reason of the use of vegetables thus have been planted in trenches, if filled up level, it affected, even when they were entirely fair to the is sufficient for the first time, giving it one or two sight. Of this we have no doubt. Of the new va- good earthings at intervals of one or two weeks. rieties of potato that have been tried in this vicini- For field culture, or where the breadth is large, ty, the present season, there is none so highly and grown for market, recourse must be had to the praised as Davis' Seedling. Side by side, with other plow, or the expense would be too large to secure varieties, this escapes disease entirely. Some pre-a return. Many earth up with the plow without tend to crack up the "State of Maine potato," but any handling of the plants, and with care and cauthe best observers say, it is a miserable concern- tion are able to do it without disturbing the leaves entirely unworthy of regard. much; but as a general rule, it will pay to draw a Aug. 23, 1855. SOUTH DANVERS. little to them first, with a hoe or the hand, as if a THOMAS TYTTE. clod gets on the heart of the plant, the leaves get Not by the Author of "Thanatopsis,” “Robert of Lincoln,” and twisted and bent, and are worth less in the market. Except the soil is mellow, celery will hardly pay as a crop, from the difficulty there is in getting the earth sufficiently fine about the leaves.-Country Gentleman. EFFECTS OF HEAT UPON MEAT. A well cooked piece of meat should be full of its own juice or natural gravy. In roasting, therefore, it should be exposed to a quick fire, that the external surface may be made to contract at once, and the albumen to coagulate, before the juice has had time to escape from within. And so in boiling. When a piece of beef or mutton is plunged into boiling water, the outer part contracts, the albumen which is near the surface coagulates, and the internal juice is prevented either from escaping into the water by which it is surrounded, or from being diluted or weakened by the admission of water among it. When cut up, therefore, the meat yields much gravy, and is rich in flavor. Hence a beefsteak or a mutton chop is done quickly, and over a quick fire, that the natural juices may be retained. On the other hand, if the meat be exposed to a slow fire its pores remain open, the juice continues to flow from within, as it has dried from the surface, and the flesh pines, and becomes dry, hard, and unsavory. Or if it be put into cold or tepid water, which is afterwards gradually brought to a boil, much of the albumen is extracted before it coagulates, the natural juices for the most part flow out, and the meat is served in a nearly tasteless state. Hence to prepare good boiled meat, it should be put at once into water already brought to a boil. But to make beef tea, mutton broth, and other meat soups, the flesh should be put into cold water, and this afterwards very slowly warmed, and finally boiled. The advantage derived from simmering, a term not unfrequent in cookery books, depends very much upon the effects of slow boiling as above explained.— Chemistry of Common Life. For the New England Farmer. A GOOD PRODUCT OF RYE. MR. EDITOR: -I was informed by Mr. ADINO PAGE, of S. Danvers, that he had 7 acres of rye the present season, from which he harvested 229 bushels,-150 of which were sold at $1,50 per bushel. The straw will sell for enough to pay for the labor of culture and harvesting, so that the land may be estimated as yielding an income of $45 an acre; the manure applied having been made on the farm, of course, costs nothing. This we think a fair product, taking into view the quality of the soil, which has ever been looked upon as ordinary, scarcely worth owning. It affords a strong illustration of the benefits to accrue from the adaptation of the crop to the soil. If we do not mistake, there has been grown on the same farm,for ten years last past, crops of rye, each year, varying from 30 to 45 bushels to the acre. Who will say that farming is not worth pursuing, when the poorest land can be made to yield such products? August 20, 1855. By a census lately taken, the population of Minnesota Territory it shown to be about 45,000. Minor Poems. |