DEVOTED TO AGRICULTURE AND ITS KINDRED ARTS AND SCIENCES. VOL. VII. JOEL NOURSE, PROPRIETOR, BOSTON, OCTOBER, 1855. SIMON BROWN, EDITOR. CALENDAR FOR OCTOBER. Autumn month we NO. 10. FRED'K HOLBROOK, ASSOCIATE are made to enter joyously upon the ice-bound season so soon to follow. The late fruit is carefully CTOBER is upon us, gathered and packed away for preservation or sale, with its transparent or is converted into some pleasant beverage for atmosphere, and winter use-the latter harvests are stowed away in clear, cool eventhe barns and granaries-the flail and the threshing ings. The Summer machine are busy with their clatter. [We someis over and gone. times almost regret that the threshing machines Through the first were ever invented, for to our ears, there is nothing more cheering than to hear from all around a farming neighborhood the measured clack of the flail, as it were, the bridge which divides Summer from as it comes longer, or more faint, according to the distance, or to the thickness of "the threshing" upWinter; we are about to pass it. Let us pay cheerfully the on the floor. Every farmer who was a boy ere threshing machines came into use, will doubtless toll of grateful hearts. recall the hours and hours that he has listened, in The forests have put off their beautiful robes of green, a still, sunshiny day, to the clack, clack-clack, clack-clack, clack, of the flails coming from the so pleasant to the eye, and so cheer-threshing floors for miles around him. Many and ing to the heart, many a time have we done so.] The cattle floor is and now stand carefully prepared for its winter tenants. geous clothed in their gor- Are there any loose clapboards or battens upon Autumnal the barn, they are made fast, and every air-hole hues-pranked out in their richest apparel, only to through which the sharp blasts of winter can penebe laid in the dreary grave of Winter. They shall trate to make the cattle uncomfortable, are carefulrise in renewed verdure, and thus Nature gives her ly closed up, for "the merciful man is merciful to sanction of immortality to Revelation. He who has his beast," and the good farmer would no sooner said, "seed time and harvest shall not fail," has see one of his oxen suffer from cold through his blessed the husbandman with abundance, and this own negligence, than one of his children. As the is the time for his thanksgivings to ascend to that sailor, when he sees the storm approaching, takes Giver of All Good for his benevolence and his mer-care "to make all snug"-so the good farmer, as cies. winter approaches, takes care to make all comfortable. No month in the whole year presents a time more suitable for reflection than OCTOBER. The And the evenings of OCTOBER! Go with me to heat, the labor and the hurry of Summer have farmer Wellman's, and let us see how those evenpassed away-the harvest has been mostly gathered ings are passed. The sun has just gone down in a in, the days are cool, clear and comfortable, the clear and cloudless West, and the chill of evening is evenings are getting long, and the cheerful fire approaching. Do you hear Goodwife Wellmanblazes on the hearth, soon after the sun disappears. "John, it's time to build a fire in the sitting-room; During the day-time the odds and ends of the farm the evening is a-going to be chilly, and your father work are leisurely gathered up by the snug and and the men folks will be in directly." John-a thrifty farmer, and all the necessary preparations boy of perhaps eight or ten summers-for farmer Wellman's boys begin to help round early-does have their exhibitions at such times as the Board of as he is bidden, and soon a bright fire is blazing up- Agriculture may direct? on the hearth. The farmer and his family, having partaken of a bountiful repast, gather around the cheerful blaze. Farmer Wellman takes his com For the New England Farmer. RAPE PLANT. mer rape now in bloom, which was sown in drills fortable chair in the corner, and the wife and daugh- Noticing the communication of "P. A. F.," of ters are seated around the table, sewing, or knit- Shaker Village, N. H., and "A. B.," of Sudbury, ting, or performing such still household duties as I remark that there is a summer and a winter variare requisite; the boys are variously disposed. Far-ety. The seed of the former is not quite so large mer Goodyear and his son Thomas come in to spend of your correspondents, but better suited to the as the latter sort, which was probably tried by both the evening, and there they sit and discuss the New England climate. It is the same as is imwhole round of farmers' duties-the crops-the ported from Germany and Holland, and sold by the prospects, &c., &c., and as likely as not they end name of Dutch rape. That known in the market as their evening conversation by a discussion of nation- English rape, is the winter variety, and is mostly al or State politics, for no men are better posted imported from England. I have a patch of sumup in such matters than these two farmers. The in May, and some of the lower seed-pods have women folks talk of their butter and cheese, their nearly filled out. The seed sells at about $4,00 per caps, bonnets, dresses, &c., and the younger fry en- bushel, and as the grower in this country is protectgage in such conversation and fun as befits the time ed by a duty of 10 per cent., it certainly seems as and place. The old clock in the corner strikes ten. The visiters, with the asseveration "that they didn't have any idea it was so late," bid good-night; the family assemble around the table, the Holy Book is read, and an ardent and sincere prayer ascends to Heaven, and then all is hushed and still in that dwelling, till daylight begins to streak the East, when the bustle of a new day of labor and happiness is welcomed with thanksgiving; and so pass away the OCTOBER days and nights of Farmer Wellman and his neighbors. though we ought to supply our own market. The knowledge in this country was raised by a farmer only crop that ever came within my personal in Pennsylvania, who thought that it paid him well at $2,50 per bushel. It will grow on any piece of land that will produce turnip seed. The plants should be left standing about 18 inches apart. W. For the New England Farmer. THE PROGRESS APPLE. The Progress Apple is a native of this place, and the original tree is now standing, although it has probably yielded regular crops from a period quite remote. And with the beautiful rotation of the seasons, pass the beautiful rotation of the farmer's labors Situated as it was, where farms have been well and the farmer's pleasures. Honest industry is stocked with apple trees yielding good fruit in great sure to afford independence, happiness, and peace at abundance, its good qualities were not immediately all seasons of the year. The farmer depends more tested, and it was at first considered only as a late than any other upon the beneficent God above him, fall apple. But they were found, after a fair trial, and the yielding earth beneath him, and every oth- thus they are a favorite for the table from Octoto rival the best winter apples as a late keeper; er occupation in life depends mainly upon the far-ber to April. The tree is a good grower (not quite mer. Honored and respected beyond all other em- so rapid as the Baldwin) and forms a very handployment, be that of him who tills the soil. some head; bears early, regularly, and most abundantly. But, bless me, and yourself too, kind reader! We have become so interested in the pleasures and fair; skin smooth, and when gathered, a light green, Fruit rather above medial size, roundish, and very appearances of OCTOBER, that we had well-nigh for- with a tinge of red in the sun; when fully ripe, a gotten its appropriate duties, and must leave them clear light yellow, with a beautiful blush on the sunnow to your own good sense and suggestions; only ny side, and sometimes sprinkled with a few scathoping that beautiful October may prove to each of you, all that we have said of it above. For the New England Farmer. tered gray dots. Flesh very tender, juicy, with sprightly and remarkably agreeable flavor. As a market fruit it is very profitable, owing to its productiveness and ready sale. The trees bear well by the road-side, or in pastures, and in the cultivated garden or orchard the fruit is superb. They have not failed for years to draw a premiOn looking over the appointments for these, it um from the Middlesex County (Conn.) Agricultuseems they are to be holden in five of the counties, ral Society, and at the Connecticut State Fair last on the 26th and 27th days of September-in four October, took the first premium as best new seedof the counties, on the 3d and 4th days of October ling. It deserves an extensive dissemination, and is -in four of the counties, on the 10th and 11th sure to do well in any of the Northern or Western days of October. Might they not be so arranged States. P. M. AUGUR. as to come on successive days, between the 20th of Middlefield, 1855. September and the 20th of October? Ought it not to be provided by law, that all those societies which *The old tree stands on land of Alvah Coe, formerly of old are sustained by the bounty of the State, should best. Esquire Miller, and for some time was called Esquire Miller's |