its normal condition of semi-fertility, but with the feet below the surface of the earth, at the bottom application of a far smaller amount of manure, of a barrow which was opened near Dorchester. He had been buried with some coins of the Empercontinues to produce affluently all such crops as or Hadrian." It is supposed the body had lain are adapted to it in its improved and modified char- in that place 1600 or 1700 years.

acter. The amount of clay requisite to effect a Near Stirling, in Scotland, the workmen encomplete and radical amelioration, is a matter to gaged in laying bare the clay soil, underlying 14

feet of peat bog, for cultivation, threw out some clay in which the parish clergyman who was looking on espied some seeds. He took them and planted them, and they produced a species of chrys

be decided only by observation and experiment. Various rules have been laid down and numerous theories elaborated with a view to illustrate this important point; yet the true touch-stone is, in anthemum. the case of the practical operator-EXPERIMENT. Some years ago, some well-diggers in Maine The old adage, "Circumstances alter cases," ap- struck, at 20 feet below the surface, and a distance of 40 miles from the sea, a layer of sand, which plies here with peculiar force, for no two fields are excited curiosity, as none similar, so far as known, exactly alike, or require precisely the same treat-existed nearer than the sea-beach. It was scatment to render them productive.

For the New England Farmer. DURATION OF VITALITY OF SEEDS. BY W. J. A. B.

tered about the spot, and in a year or two the ground was overgrown with young beach plums, which had never been seen before except on the beach.

The seeds of the beach plums and chrysanthemum must have lain buried for ages. The duraWhen I first put my hand to the plow, and be- tion of vitality in seeds seems to be unlimited, or gan to exercise that most noble of all arts, tilling nearly so, provided they are in conditions which the ground, I had many instructions and monitions neither call their properties into exercise nor occaof wisdom from my kind neighbors, the farmers. sion their decay. These conditions favorable to I then found that in the country, kindness was the preservation of seeds are a low temperature, quite as common as in the town. For I was im- dryness, and exclusion from the influence of oxymediately loaded down with as much as I could gen. Seeds may be kept many years without incarry, in the shape of advice; and that in a form jury, if moisture and oxygen be not entirely exwhich was intended to leave nothing to my own cluded, if the temperature be low and uniform, indiscretion, being given as the result of experi- and the moisture slight, so as not to cause them to ence which no one unless he were fool-hardy decay. Seeds preserved in the herbarium of Tournwould disregard, and neglecting which he could efort, a French naturalist, were found to retain reap only disaster and ruin. The benevolent coun- their fertility after the lapse of nearly a century. sels were bestowed as freely and with the same These instances, except the one coming under force of authority by the lad who on the same day my own knowledge, are related from the most auhad plowed his first acre, as by the sturdy yeo-thentic sources. I find them in a recent very valman who had sowed and reaped under sixty suns. uable and reliable treatise on Vegetable PhysioloOne of my early lessons in the art was that I must gy, printed at Philadelphia. take care to procure seed of the last harvest ;-and There is no doubt that seeds may be placed in that if I should sow that which was two years old, such circumstances as to destroy their vitality in I should "have my labor for my gains." I soon two or three years; but my purpose is twofold; found, however, that this was an error,-and that first to show the causes of this deterioration, so some other opinions and practices of the best far- that farmers and others may be enabled to premers were either offsprings of the same family, and serve their seeds for more than one year;-and born of error, or were only distant and collater-second, to disabuse them of the erroneous opinion al offsets of the tree of truth, enfeebled and dis- which they have so long held in relation to this eased by contact with, or the overshadowing influ- matter. By packing them in papers or vessels so ence of error. Having obtained some seeds of that the air may not come to them, and placing tomatoes which I had not opportunity to commit them in a cool and dry place, they may keep them to the earth the first season, they were placed in a lifetime without loss of their fertilizing property. my trunk and there remained four years. At the end of this time, wishing to raise some of that very wholesome and agreeable vegetable, I planted my

SALE OF IMPROVED STOCK.-The third annual sale,

old seeds, which came up without failure of a by auction, of Mr. MORRIS' improved breeds of hill, and yielded a most abundant and excellent domestic animals, will take place at Mount Fordcrop. ham, Westchester Co., 11 miles from New York But, gentlemen, as I have reason to think that City, on Wednesday, June 9, 1852. The particua great many farmers are yet led astray by the old opinion which has been so current with them in lars of this sale are in another coluinn, to which relation to this matter, I desire to communi- we refer the reader. Mr. Morris' knowledge of cate to them, through your columns, other instan- what good stock is, together with his character ces beside those in my own experience, which for fair and honorable dealing, render this sale unshow the opinion to be erroneous. usually attractive to those wishing to purchase.

Dr. Lindley, the eminent botanist and author, says, "I have now before me three raspberry plants which have been raised in the gardens of the SHEEP. We learn through the Vermont State Horticultural Society, from seeds taken from the Journal that S. M. JEWETT, Esq., whose communistomach of a man whose skeleton was found 30 cations have frequently appeared in the Farmer

upon the subject of sheep, has just returned from has provided ample room,) is indeed a cruel pleaFrance with a new importation of one hundred sure. To me it seems right to spare the creatures and fifty ewes and fifteen bucks. The latter are He has made, (especially the birds,) inasmuch as fourteen months old, and weigh about 200 lbs. every thing was made for some good and wise pureach; all purchased from the best flocks in France. them and us. Each have their privileged space, pose. The earth is wide, and room enough for

For the New England Farmer.

"DON'T KILL THE BIRDS."

BY A. TODD.

and

"He that hunts

Or harms them there, is guilty of a wrong;
Disturbs th' economy of nature's realm,
Who, when she formed designed them an abode."
Smithfield, R. I.

A. T.

For the New England Farmer. WORN OUT SOIL.

Notwithstanding much has been said and written in regard to the destruction of the feathered tribe, it may not be out of place to revive it occasionally in the hearing of those who are prone to destroy these harmless and musical little warblers. The exhaustion of the soil, which for so long a Did every one love birds as well as I do,-did eve-time has been carried on in New England, will not ry one delight in hearing their merry and glad- be fully realized till there ceases to be any unoccusome notes, few would be the birds destroyed on pied land in this country. It is generally admitthe farmer's premises. But cruel as it is to take ted that land which a few years ago would prothe life of the birds that build their nests and rear duce fifty bushels of grain, has been so impovtheir young among the shrubbery around our mea- erished, that it will not produce fifteen bushels. dows and pastures, and even under our very win- It has been truly said, that "there is nothing lost dows, I have myself, in days gone by, been guilty on a farm, unless it be burned or drowned." of such acts of cruelty. Gladly would I, if I could, But I think that it can be truly said, that whatrestore to life every innocent bird I have been guil-ever is burned or drowned is not lost. For the ty of destroying; but it is too late. burning combustibles ascending to the clouds in For mere sport, multitudes of the feathered tribe smoke, return to the earth in the genial dew, and are destroyed every year by the gun of the fowler. refreshing rain, and the carbon which is thus difFor having been guilty of such acts, I almost think fused in the atmosphere is absorbed in vegetation. I can, in part, excuse myself, from the fact that I From our over-tasked soil, yielding her abundwas taught to believe that birds were great depre- ance of produce, which is sent to foreign shores, dators. The kingbird must be killed because he there is nothing left to restore its healthful vigor. caught the honey-bee; the blackbird and brown- This fact should teach the farmer the utility of so thresher must be destroyed because they pulled up diversifying his labor, that it would be less exthe farmer's corn, and so on, different birds doing hausting to the soil, and check the desire of exdifferent kinds of mischief; and for this reason lit-porting the best product of the land, and receiving tle partiality was shown, and I thought the more in return that which will yield him nothing but were the birds killed, the less would the farmer's leanness of body and barrenness of soul. crops be destroyed. Philosophical reasonings, tru- Quite a difference in this respect exists between ly! I can call to mind many times when I have this country and England. The latter exports her been well nigh affected to tears in witnessing the metals and her manufactures, and her various prodeath-struggles of the little warblers that have ductions from under the surface of the earth. Also fallen at my feet, pierced with leaden missiles.- the various manufactures of silk, cotton, and wool. Often have I called to mind what L'Estrange in She imports vast quantities of food from her less his Fables says in regard to the observation made provident neighbors, all of which is consumed by by the frogs to some frolicsome boys-"Children, her various operatives in the manufacture of you do not consider, that though this may be sport metals, wool, &c., &c., a part of which is returned to you, it is death to us.' to the soil, which so enriches it as to produce

Like other boys, I was fond of sport, notwith- threefold more than it would otherwise do. We standing such sport resulted in the death of those on the contrary import metals and manufactures, creatures that had an undoubted right to live. I which will never mingle with the soil, and export will mention an instance or an incident that I wit- vegetable fertilizing matter the bulk of thousands nessed in my sporting days that cured me of in- and thousands of acres.

D.

dulging in the cruel habit. It used to be rare England retains all the elements of her fertilizasport for me to "bark" squirrels from limbs of tall tion existing in the refuse of her own crops, and trees, with the single bullet, or sever their tails also that of her imported food, while instead of from their bodies and let them go free. On one encouraging the creation of consumers in part, in occasion, as a pretty red squirrel sat eating his the place of producers alone, we compel the Amernuts, with his bushy tail spread over his back, I ican agriculturist to export a large part of the ferfired a bullet, and not only severed his tail, but tilizing elements of each crop to nourish foreign inflicted a death-wound in the hind part of his bo- production. dy. Never shall I forget how my feelings were April 26, 1852. wrought upon, as the little fellow fell to the ground. With what a pitiful look did he cast his eyes towards me, and with fore paws raised for land, Ohio, relates a case of a stallion of his havprotection, seemed to say,- What have I done? ing gone entirely blind without any apparent cause. Need I say this was the last time I ever indulged A friend who examined him, found "blind or wolf i this cruel sport? teeth," which were immediately knocked out, and Sporting for pleasure, and destroying the inno- the horse soon recovered his sight.-Albany Culticent creatures God has made, (and for which he vator.

BLIND TEETH IN HORSES.-William Little, of Po

EMPIRE STATE,

racers.

guished as strong and valuable roadsters, and fast The above engraving, procured expressly for our trotters, and some of his progeny were eminent as columns, represents the beautiful horse, called by his owners, Messrs. TROWBRIDGE & MATHES, "Empire State." They purchased him of a gentleman in New York, about one year ago, who valued

For the New England Farmer. "TYING UP CATTLE." MR. EDITOR :-Were a school-ma'am to ask me

him for his qualities as a business and pleasure that geography question again, "What are the horse, being safe, of fine figure and action, and of principal bodies of water upon the globe," I know I great speed and endurance. The present owners should head the list with Concord River! The have recently refused $3000 for him, and prices water is very high for the reason that it has been varying from $100 to $200 have been offered for falling for four long days. Farmers in our neighborhood wonder when they shall "get hold of their spring work." We are all sadly behind hand. This horse was raised in Wyoming Co., N. Y., When the sun does get out in sight, there will will be eight years old the coming summer, and is have to be some "stirring round."

colts of his at four months old.

gan."

He

a natural trotting horse, a proof of which was had It seems the editor of the Germantown Teleat Cambridge Park last fall, in a trial for a purse graph is down on that "Tying up Cattle" article, with the celebrated trotting horse "Flying Mor-published in the Farmer a few weeks ago. won't admit the improvement part of it anyhow. He says the stanchion mode of tying up cattle has The said Morgan came here from Vermont for a been in use in France a long time. How he got trial of speed with a mare of the Black Hawk the idea that any originality was claimed for it, is stock, and beat the mare. This horse afterwards more than I can see. He says, "There is (in the contested with the Flying Morgan horse, and won cut) a Yankee addition (oh, what does he mean by the race, we are informed, with perfect ease, in 2 that?) perhaps patented (!) attached to it of ropes, cranks, and screws, which we regard as utminutes and 45 seconds, in harness, without fit-terly destroying the French plan." He then gives ting or training, and it is said can trot at any time the French plan" without any of these obnoxious

in 2 minutes and 45 seconds in the

same condition.

"Yankee additions."

With proper training he would trot much faster. have no hay-racks, but a good sized trough beThe French plan of stanchion fastenings is, to It is believed by many that no entire horse in New yond the stanchions, (in front?) into which all England can compete with the "Empire State" in the provender of (for) the cattle is placed, and point of speed, style, blood, and docility of tem- which can be got at by the cattle only by the head through the opening made by the sliding of the

per.

This horse is a descendant of the English horse upper part of the moveable bar. The cattle in a day or two, thrust their heads through this openMessenger, imported into this country about the ing, which is quite large, as freely as they enter close of the last century. His stock was distin-their stalls; when the tender passes along the en

For the New England Farmer.

try or fodder-way, and with no more effort than it would take to throw a handful of meal into the THE HISTORY OF THE APPLE TREE. trough, places the movable stanchion in its upright position, which, by a falling latch or key, fastens itself.

BY S. P. FOWLER.
[CONCLUDED.]

The subject of heading down old decayed apple The Telegraph thinks this arrangement for se- trees, and renovating such as are hastening to decuring the "unruly beef" altogether ahead of cay, although an important one to many cultiva"our" way. To me it seems quite evident that tors, has been but seldom mentioned in modern some of the cattle would start back just at the fruit books. It is to the old writers, who wrote critical moment and leave the "latch" to "fasten forty or fifty years since, that we must look chiefly itself" and nothing else; the horns would happen for information upon this subject. It was by Mr. to be on the wrong side! Forsyth, an English gardener, that we were The Telegraph suggests that the crank might made acquainted with a method of renovating move "when an animal was looking round or diseased and decayed fruit trees, in a "Treatise driving away a fly; and then the whole thing must on the culture and management of Fruit Trees,' be done over again." No, sir. Just pull out a published by William Cobbett in 1803, being the spring key and bolt, and get in the struggler in first American edition. a hurry. Peter W. Yates, Esq., of Albany, wrote a comThe cut in the Farmer could hardly represent munication, under date of Sept., 1803, containing the whole plan. The rope might be brought his observations published in Forsyth's Treatise, down behind the cows and attached to a crank or wherein he says, I am fully satisfied that Mr. lever. Now the Telegraph says, "the cattle in a Forsyth's remedy affords a radical cure for diseases, day or two thrust their heads through as freely as defects and injuries, in all kinds of fruit trees; they enter their stalls." Very good; then why and that it may with equal success and advannot fasten all at once? The Telegraph says curi- tage be applied in this climate, as in England. osity or a fly may keep some out. I think a man The chief value of this discovery was supposed to behind the cattle with an alder might counteract consist in a composition, which caused the wood any opposition of that kind. It would be better to form rapidly, and soon to fill up and heal over to feed the cattle before driving in, and they would large cavities, caused by rot, in old and neglected not hesitate about going to their places. trees. It was likewise supposed to be equally The Telegraph thinks the letting so many loose efficacious, when applied to wounds, caused by at once would be perilous in the extreme. With grafting or the heading down of trees. When a proper number of wide, sliding doors, there can trees had become hollow, it was Mr. Forsyth's be no danger. method to scoop out all the rotten, loose, and The Telegraph concludes his article by a warm dead parts of the trunk, till he came to the solid approval of the stanchion method, but bids his readers beware of the "ropes, cranks, pulleys, &c., recommended in the east." Concord, Mass., April 21, 1852.

W. D. B.

For the New England Farmer.
CISTERNS VS. WELLS.

wood, leaving the surface smooth; then cover the hollow with the composition. In a few years, if the cavity is not large, it would be filled with new wood. How much success, if any, in the renovation of old and decayed fruit trees in this country has attended the system of Mr. Forsyth, we are unable to say.

In the year 1802, Mr. Knight, the great EngMR. EDITOR-I have seen it stated, where or lish pomonologist, published some doubts relative by whom I do not now recollect, that the water to the efficacy of Mr. Forsyth's plaster, in renovatwhich annually falls from the various out-buildings ing trees, where he observed of this quackery, of the farm was sufficient to supply the wants of [for which Forsyth was rewarded with a grant of the ordinary amount of stock, during the season. money,] that it afforded a much better proof that And it struck me quite forcibly that such an amount he was paid for a discovery, than that he had made of water, judiciously preserved, together with an one. To make this composition of Mr. Forsyth's, apparatus properly and systematically arranged, take one bushel of fresh cow-dung, half a bushel might be made to supply the place of a well at of lime, rubbish of old buildings, half a bushel of much less expense and decidedly superior in point wood-ashes, and a sixteenth part of a bushel of of convenience. If you or any of the readers of pit or river sand; the three last articles are to be the Farmer, who have had any experience in this sifted fine before they are mixed: then work them method, will be pleased to report progress, or give well together with a spade, and afterwards with a us a system of their operations, they will certainly wooden beater, until the stuff is very smooth, like fine plaster used for the ceiling of rooms. Cobbett informs us, that Mr. Forsyth's method of curing diseased and decayed fruit and forest trees was, after a very minute examination, made by A RAPID GROWTH.—It has been stated to us that ficial, both to individuals, and the public, and his men of great skill, pronounced to be highly beneMr. SYLVESTER NEWTON, of Southboro', Mass., Majesty, at the recommendation of both Houses of grafted an apple tree in 1848, and in 1850 he gath- Parliament, granted him a reward of four thousand ered from those grafts nine barrels of good market-pounds. This treatise was translated into several able apples, of the Baldwin variety! Well, we are of the European languages, and received the highglad of it, but if we get them at that rate in four est encomiums. In writing the History of the Apple Tree, we have thus noticed this once faor five years after setting the scions, we think we mous composition, which was probably one of the do better than most of our neighbors. greatest humbugs [to use a word, not much used

confer a favor.

Yours, &c.
Burlington, March 18, 1852.

R. H. HOWARD.

Mr.

in Forsyth's time,] ever found in the annals of horticulture.

trunk and branches, and apply the wash, likewise open the ground around the tree, and apply some well rotted compost manure or ashes.

Several years since, we used the plaster of Mr. Forsyth's, upon the wounds caused by pruning, When the branches of an old apple tree are unand the stumps in two years were found to be fit to graft, they may be headed down in the manrotten, where it had not been thrown off by the ner described by Forsyth, and buds or grafts put action of the frost. Paint, rosin, or gum, as a into the new shoots or suckers. It would be well general thing, is better where it can be applied to at the same time to impart vigor to the tree, by cover the wounds upon trees, than alkaline plas-stimulating manures or ashes, and by scraping the ters, which usually promote decay. We have be- trunk and branches and applying the wash. But fore, in a previous article, written of the use of as a general rule, we are inclined to the belief, red or yellow ochre, made into a thick paint, to that old and decrepid apple trees are hardly worth cover the wounds of trees. We have used it for the time and labor necessary to be spent upon several years, and like it much. Gum shellac, them, to make them fruitful. dissolved in alcohol, has been recommended by Mr. Downing. We have been informed by those persons who have used it, that they have found

Danvers, March 1, 1852.

S. P. F.

REMARKS. This number closes the series of adit beneficial, but difficult to keep from drying mirable papers upon the "History of the Apple up. And its ingredients are not always easily to Tree." Mr. FOWLER has written them in a plain, be obtained, particularly the alcohol, which we

BONE MANURE.

certainly do not regret. Whereas ochre and oil strong style, with a spice of quaintness in his excan be found at every paint shop, and usually at tracts and allusions to the old writers, which, addmost country stores. ed to their other merits, has rendered them very Trees that are old, and in a state of decay, can popular. They have been copied into other jourbe rejuvenated by opening the ground around the nals, and will prove valuable papers of reference. trunk, and pruning the dead roots, if any are to We take this opportunity to thank the writer be found, loosening the earth for the space of several feet, from the body of the tree, and digging for his contributions, and to express a hope that into it some compost manure. Prune the tree his pen will not long remain idle. carefully, being particular to remove every dead or diseased branch, and apply paint to the wounds, search the trunk, and large limbs for the canker, cutting out the diseased bark, and covering the Bones, though of comparatively recent introbare wood with the ochre. If you discover cavi- duction as a manure, stand at the head of all misties in the limbs or trunk, scoop out the rotten cellaneous articles used for this purpose. The imparts to the live wood, and fill up the hollow with proved machinery for preparing them has brought cement, or mortar well made from coarse sand. them into extensive use in Europe. In England it The surface of the mortar, exposed to the weather, has been demonstrated that on dry sands, limeshould be smoothed down hard, just filling the stone, chalk, light loams, and peat, bones are a That they may be applied cavity, so that the growing lip of wood can easily very valuable manure. form over it. Scrape all the moss and loose bark to grass with great effect. That on arable lands, from the trunk and limbs, and apply the follow- they may be laid on fallow for turnips, or used for ing composition or wash, made and used by Capt. any of the subsequent crops. That the best methJ. S. Lovett, of Beverly, and recommended by od of using them, when broadcast, is previously to him in Hovey's Magazine for the year 1850. I mix them up in a compost with earth, dung, or think it much better than any thing I have ever other manures, and let them lie and ferment. That seen, as a wash for all kinds of trees. Capt. Lov- if used alone, they may either be drilled with the ett says:-I use a large vessel, say a tub, made seed, or sown broadcast. That bones which have by sawing a molasses hogshead in two, at the undergone the process of fermentation are decidedbung, which will hold about seventy gallons; in ly superior in their immediate effects to those who this tub I put a wheelbarrow load of yellow clay, have not done so. That the quantity should be and an equal quantity of fresh cow-manure, cov-about 20 bushels of dust, or 40 bushels of large, ering it with water. After soaking and mixing a increasing the quantity if the land be impoverished. day or two, I add half a bushel wood ashes, one-N. Y. Farmer and Mechanic.

pound of sulphur, six or eight pounds of soft soap,

and mix well together; then slake half a peck of FRIED POTATOES.-A secret worth knowing.-I lime, and add to the above, using water sufficient guess no Yankee ever forgot three dishes somewhat to make the whole about the consistency of thin peculiar to his native land; these are codfish and cream, which will nearly fill the tub; mix well potatoes, baked beans, and fried potatoes; and I together for several days. This can be best ap- also guess he never has found them, particularly plied to the trees with a white-wash brush. the last, possessing that delicious richness which When it is thought necessary to alter the tops of greeted his boyhood's palate. Natives of other an old apple tree by grafting, it can be done, pro- lands don't know how to fry potatoes; yet 'tis an viding it is sound, and its branches are healthy. easy matter. There is but one secret. After you Should this be the case, it is best to begin by have washed, peeled and sliced them nicely, quite grafting about one-third of the top of the tree the thin, put two quarts of potatoes into two quarts of first year, and the remaining two-thirds, compos- hot lard-not merely melted, but hot, very hot, ing the side branches, may be grafted in the two just as hot as it can be made without burning. succeeding years. At the expiration of the third That is the secret. Fresh fish should be cooked in year, or second, if you choose, to impart more the same way. Ditto doughnuts. It is "a secret health and vigor to the tree, you may scrape the worth knowing."-The Plow.