der useful. Strawberries seldom do well in low, I considers to have been thus formed in the lake wet ground. Raspberries and gooseberries do bet- district of Cumberland. To a similar cause, also, ter there.

In planting raspberries, they should be cut down nearly to the ground when planted. You lose the crop, of course, but you get good strong canes for next year. If you leave the canes long enough to bear, it will probably be the only crop you will ever get from them. Never expect anything to bear the year after transplanting. It is generally at the expense of the future health of the tree.

Grapes that have become weak from age may be renewed by layering down a branch some feet just under the surface, and then cut back, so that one good eye only be left at the surface of the soil.

he refers the phenomenon termed sweating, which is the precipitation of moisture on walls and flagged floors excluded from the influence of fire. He also attributes to a warm south wind succeeding to a cold north wind, the deposition of a large quantity of moisture in the gallery of a nobleman in Devonshire, and quotes the saying in Homer, The south wind wraps the mountain top in mist."

LOOK OUT FOR YOUR FRUIT TREES!

We have seen sad havoc among shrubbery and fruit trees, this spring, by mice, and have heard of it from various directions. These little creatures OUR MECHANICAL PRODUCTIVENESS. have been cut off from their usual resources in a The work of preparing the statistics of the last great degree by the ice which has covered the national census for publication has so far progressed, as to afford valuable information to the ground for several weeks past. This has comCommittee on Ways and Means, and the Treas- pletely shut them out from the low shrubs and ury Department, in preparing a tax bill. The dif- grass roots, and in order to preserve life they have ferent branches of manufacturing industry have been compelled to go to the stems of our cultivat expanded marvelously since the census of 1850. ed shubbery and fruit trees. In some cases, we In that census the cotton manufacturers were set have heard of great damage done to apple trees, where they are of eight or ten years' growth. If such trees are gnawed mostly, or entirely, around their stems, they will be likely to die, unless they receive immediate attention-and the loss and disBut skilful and paappointment will be severe. tient hands may save many, by attending to them at once.

down at $65,500,687. The returns from New England alone in 1860 amount to $79,000,000. The woolen goods of the United States were estimated at $39,848,557, but New England alone in 1860 returns the value of woolen goods at $32,000,000. In boots and shoes the census of 1850

for the whole United States returned only $53,967,408; Massachusetts alone in 1860 estimates her production in this branch of industry at $46,060,000. Philadelphia returns nearly $6,000,000. The first thing to be done is, to visit each tree, The production of pig, bar, railroad and rolled and, wherever it is mutilated, cover the wounded iron, which in 1850 was of the value of $30,823,374, in 1860 has reached $62,055,000, having part with a cloth or something else, so that it shall doubled in ten years. The malt liquors produced not become dry. The bark should be kept fresh in 1850 were valued at $5,728,508. In 1860 the and succulent until scions can be cut and placed amount is 3,235,000 barrels, valued at $18,000,- vertically between the lower and upper portions 000, or more than three times greater. The spiritu- of the wound; then take scions from any vigorous ous liquors in 1850 were valued at $15,770,240;

in 1860 the production is 86,000,000 gallons, tree of the same family, and with a sharp knife vauled at $23,500,000. The value of the products make a slanting cut of a half inch or more at each of industry of all branches in 1850 was computed end, but on the same side, raise the bark on the at $1,019,106,616. In 1860 it will reach $1,900,- edge of the wound a little, and place the scion in 000,000, or an increase of about eighty-seven per cent! The greatest increase since 1850 is in agricultural implements, iron, malt liquors, machinery, clothing, cotton goods, refined sugar, gold mining, &c.

HOW MIST IS GENERATED.

so that it will pass under the bark at each end about an eighth to a quarter of an inch. The slanting cut will then rest on the alburnum or sap wood that has been laid bare. The scions should be set within an inch of each other as far as the wood is laid bare, and nearer still would be better.

The production of mist is the subject of a note A piece of bass matting, or if that is not at hand, by the veteran Dr. John Davy (brother of Humphrey) in the Edinburgh Philosophical Journal. The some soft twine or narrow strips of cloth should cause usually assigned for mist is the access of be tied over the ends of the scions to prevent them cold air and its admixture with warmer air, satu- from moving, as a trifling misplacement would be rated, or nearly saturated, with moisture (such as that resting on the surface of large bodies of water,) and strikingly exemplified in our autumnal and winter fogs, when the water, owing to the heat absorbed during summer, is of a higher temperature than the inflowing air. Dr. Davy, however, refers to another cause, not so much noticed, viz., a mild moist air coming in contact with a cooler air, equally humid, resting on cold surfaces, whether of land or water, about the end of winter or beginning of spring. He describes mists which he

likely to prevent their taking. When this has been done, the whole should be covered with a plaster composed of equal parts of cow manure and clay, thoroughly mixed, and this kept from being washed off by rains by a cloth or matting tied over the whole.

This may seem a tedious process, but it will be found to be much more rapidly done than one supposes, until he engages in it. At any rate, if a

tree of eight or ten years' growth can be saved in | giving two or three to a town, the best ewes saved this way, it is well worth the trouble to do it. Mr. and the grade males castrated, in five years the JOHN GORDON, of Brighton, informs us that he has taken this course with some of his fine pear trees that were injured by mice, and with entire success. If they are gnawed quite low down, a banking of earth about the stem after the plaster is applied, may be sufficient.

LEGISLATIVE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.
REPORTED FOR THE FARMER BY D. W. LOTHROP.

The thirteenth meeting of the series was held on Monday evening last, at the State House, the subject for discussion being-How can our Agricultural Exhibitions be made most beneficial to the industrial interests of the Commonwealth? Mr. FLINT, Secretary of the State Agricultural Board, was appointed to the chair.

value of sheep would be increased fifty per cent. So of Ayrshire bulls. In five or ten years the whole stock of the County would be remodelled. The Island of Jersey has so bred from its own stock, and kept it pure. The plan was feasible, he thought, but he presented these ideas, not as authoritative, but merely as suggestive.

Mr. SHELDON, of Wilmington, thought that premiums should be given to the best cattle of mixed herds, and not to those of particular breeds. Unless all cattle were allowed to compete together, he did not see how we could get at a true idea of their worth. More good, he thought, could be done so in five years than in twenty on the usual plan of separation. If crossing is not worth a premium, then we should not cross. He also spoke of premiums for plowing, and thought that the use of four oxen should be encouraged, as they could be trained to work well together.

They give a stimulus and ambition which reaches the farmers' wives and daughters. Our exhibitions are not mere holiday affairs, but a means of imparting real knowledge. Those countries which have done the most for agriculture have the most important exhibitions. The school at Cirencester, in England, was found too dear for the common farmer, and it was the Royal Agricultural Society which gave the stimulus, and was in fact more important than all the schools of the kingdom. So, of the State Society of New York, and also of ours, with its numerous branches. In our agricultural reports the farmer finds the best literature extant on the subjects treated. The writers do

He said the question in substance inquired, how we can make our agricultural societies more useful. He had observed that they are inclined to Dr. LORING, of Salem, thought the County Sofall into a common routine in conducting their cieties were doing much good, as they occupy the affairs; though when new they were more active, place of agricultural schools. The best knowledge more interest was felt in them, and they did more is from the farmers of real practice. They know good. They were doing much good now, howev- all about cattle, sheep, horses, fruit, crops, &c., er, but not so much as they might. He thought and are the men who constitute our agricultural there should be one or two members of the County | societies-all of which are educational institutions. Societies in each town, whose duty it should be to report to the society any new facts or ideas that might be worthy of its consideration, as affecting its exhibitions. It would excite a wider and more general interest. Heretofore, complaints had been made that persons in the same town had taken certain premiums from year to year, and it was a matter worthy of attention and correction. The publications of the transactions of the County Societies, the chairman thought, should be more general-not merely published in a newspaper, but carefully prepared in a pamphlet form, and distributed among farmers, to an extent, who were not members. Some of the societies had done well in this respect-witness the Essex, the Wor-not proceed upon theory, but give figures and cester North, and some others. Mere display and amusement for a day should not be their prime object. The speaker would also throw out as a suggestion that the County Societies should have a fund for the purchase of agricultural implements, to be distributed among its members for trial, as many farmers have not much knowledge of them. They should also own some grounds, he thought, for experiments-the raising of seeds, for instance, Mr. WETHERELL alluded to the exhibition of as great loss is sustained by those which are worth- a fine ram by Mr. Watson, of Pittsfield. He less. Yet he did not know that it could be satis-placed him under a tree, and invited his neighbors factorily done. Another point, was their purchase to come and see him. Afterward he exhibited and keeping of stock. He alluded particularly to other stock, This was before the formation of the County of Dukes, Martha's Vineyard, of three the old Massachusetts Society, and was the germ towns, whose society received $600 State bounty. of agricultural exhibitions in this country. In reIf some good South Down bucks were purchased, gard to their utility and to their reports, he

facts. He alluded to the broad, fundamental basis of agriculture in the progress of civilization, and passed to consider the State Agricultural Society, which he defended from its aspersers, and said that as it kept watch of the interests of the farmer, it was an organization of which Massachusetts should be proud, and he was glad it had friends enough to keep its course clear.

thought farmers should be more careful in speci- | whereas, in point of fact, it is superior to coal in fying facts rather than in dealing in general terms, every property that ougnt to recommend it for as to manuring, crops, and other matters of farm family use, except the rapidity with which it burns. In other words, coal lasts longer than operations. He made allusion to the State Board coke; and this is the only sense in which the forof Agriculture, and spoke in its praise. mer can be said to be superior to the latter.

For the New England Farmer. MILKING.

Mr. HOWARD, of the Boston Cultivator, said the exhibitions of Great Britain were very different from ours, as they were not intended as objects of amusement. And ours should be no less so, and more for utility. He spoke of the origin Milking is the most disagreeable work on the of the old Agricultural Society of Scotland. In farm; at least so think a large majority of the 1760, a few gentlemen held meetings in clubs, farmers in this vicinity. Before a person engages work for the season, he is very particular to inthough under adverse circumstances, when each quire how many cows are kept? There is nothing, member was required at the next meeting to pro-to be sure, very hard about it, but it is a kind of duce a plan for its enlargement and encourage- work that any one, however much he may be ment, and that influential association was the re- pleased with it at first, dislikes to do after a little experience. sult.

Owing to the Legislature holding its session late in the Representatives' Hall, and the necessity of holding the agricultural meeting in a smaller room, and being late in its organization, the discussion was necessarily cut short. Some remarks were made in regard to holding another meeting, but it was finally voted to present the subject of Underdraining for another meeting, in case the Legislature should not adjourn, and there was no announcement to the contrary.

CORRECTION.—Mr. WETHERELL in stating objections to steaming feed, did not say that Mr. Peters is "abandoning the practice," as some have inferred from reading the report in the Farmer of the 29th ult.

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Your city clerks like very much to come here in the country on vacation, and rusticate, and often the first thing that attracts their attention, is the cows, and they seem to think it must be very nice fun to milk. Upon making the acquaintance of a kicking cow, however, they soon change their tune, and it is not strange if you hear them denouncing, in the most emphatic terms, the whole farming business.

Some of your city people, and I doubt not some country people, too, would laugh at the idea of calling milking cows a trade, and yet it comes to very much the same thing, as every one must thorproficient. oughly learn the business before he can become a

We often speak of a person as being a good workman, and this might with just as much propriety, be said of one milking cows. There is as much difference between one person and another in this business as in any other. I have seen boys -yes, and men too-who had not a doubt that they knew as much about their work as anybody, bnt whom I would not employ under any circumstances, if I could possibly get along without. I am speaking now more particularly of those who might be appropriately termed the wasteful class. It makes a great difference in a cow's "holding out," whether she is "stripped" perfectly dry at each milking, or a little is allowed to be left in the bag. One of my neighbors told me that when he milked his cows himself, they each gave nearly a quart of milk a day more than they gave when he trusted it to his hired man. Great care should be taken to get every drop of milk; strip as long as any milk can be obtained.

RELATIVE HEAT OF COAL AND COKE. Independently of this competition, there are great many well-meaning people in this country, who labor under the impression that inasmuch as coke has already been partly burned, and deprived of its gas, it follows that it cannot produce so intense a heat as coal; but that the reverse of this is the fact has been proved by the best chemists. Dr. Henry, of Edinburgh, informs us that he has "learned that the heat produced by coke, when compared to that produced by coal, is at least three to two." Mr. Winsor, having made experiments with the same view, found that it required three bushels of coal to distil a given quantity of water, and only two bushels of coke. Being rath- Another important item is neatness. If people er surprised than satisfied with this, he tried the who buy their milk, should sometimes see it before same substances by combustion, with a certain it is strained, I fancy they would not quite as well measure of oxygen gas, but with a similar result. relish their morning cup of coffee. At this time This set the matter at rest in England, so far as of year, when cows are mostly kept in the barn, the relative heat was concerned; but then it was they are very liable to get dirty, and the slovenly said that if coke made as hot a fire as coal, or hot-milker will be pretty sure to get something in his ter, at least the former was not as wholesome as milk-pail which belongs in the barn-cellar. If a the latter. This, too, the most learned chemists and physicians pronounced a gross error. Ever since, the demand for coke has been so great in all the large cities of England, that the gas manafacturers cannot produce sufficient gas to supply it. But in this country it is different. In spite of our innumerable free schools and armies of teachers, the old prejudice still prevails against coke;

little pains be taken, this can all be avoided. Always keep an old brush or broom in the barn to brush the cows, and have a dish of water to wash their teats, and there will not be much danger of having dirty milk.

Kicking cows are very bad to manage. Not unfrequently the best cows for milk are very fond of exercising their legs while a person is milking,

This brings the question to bear where I wished in the outset, viz., that it is the interest of every farmer to keep the roadsides of his farm neat and clean.

and in this way a great deal of milk is wasted by | things indicate prosperity? Would you not, if the inexperienced milker. A person very natural- going to purchase a farm, pass such an one by, as ly springs back when a cow attempts to kick, which being unworthy of your inspection? The farm, is exactly what the cow wishes, for she can then aside from its slovenly appearance, may be equally have full liberty of her legs; and before you know as good and productive as its neater neighbor, culit, the cow's foot is in the pail. Instead of spring-tivated under the same circumstances. But who ing back, sit up as near the cow as possible, keep-cares to assume the task of clearing up and puting the pail-which should be between the knees ting such a place in order, unless it can be pur-as high as it will bear. In this position, there chased very low? is some danger of the cow's starting round suddenly, and tipping the milker over, unless the head be braced against the cow, so as to resist any such movement. Some recommend tying a cow's legs when she is fractious, putting a machine in Most men are moved by this motive, when all her nose, &c, but this should never be resorted to others fail. If you don't care much how things except in extreme cases. Cross cows will gener-look about your premises, and the roads adjoining, ally become gentle by mild treatment. They will depend upon it, there are dollars and cents involvbe coaxed, but you cannot drive them much easier ed in the matter that must be heeded, or you sufthan you can men. fer loss. If you set to work in good earnest, to clear up the roadside borders of your farm, you will soon extend your operations to other parts, and not rest satisfied until the whole is put in a state of neatness. You will in all probability then discover that a'spirit of improvement has somehow got hold of you, and that the farm not only looks better, but pays better. This, however, is not all the good you get. There is an undercurrent of feelings awakened that will gush up into living springs of enjoyment. You will feel your On passing a neighbor's the other day, I was for- manhood as you never felt it before; new strength cibly reminded of the very descriptive words of the for the conflict of life, and greater self-respect; wise man in reference to the field of the slothful, and be held in higher esteem by all who honor and the vineyard of the man devoid of understand-you, which will give to your example greater ining, and of their applicability to most of the road- fluence, and not only bless the present, but comsides in every neighborhood. They are all grown ing generations. over with thorns, nettles have covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof is broken down. The wise man considered it well; he looked upon it, and received instruction. Can we not do the same?

Cows should always be milked as rapidly as possible. A slow milker dries them up. This is why a cow milked by a "green hand” gives such small mess of milk.

P. PAIGE.

South Hampton, N. H., April 1, 1862.

For the New England Farmer.

THE ROADSIDES OF THE FARM.

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If such a state of things could be brought about, we should hear less of high taxes and hard times. Cheerful contentment would be found on every hand. The wise man passing by, would be pleased with the change, and instead of predicting poverty and want to come as a strong man armed, would regard you as being diligent to know the state of your flocks, and looking well to your herds; the hay and the grass appearing for the sustenance of the same; the lambs for thy clothing, and the products of thy fields and flocks for thy food, for the food of thy household, and for the maintenance of thy maidens.

Rochester, Mass., Dec., 1861.

C. K.

For the New England Farmer.

How many neglect entirely the roadside adjoining their premises, and how many more not only neglect the roadside, but their field side, and fences or walls. In numerous instances, I have seen walls and fences so overgrown with brush, briars, &c., that the owner, for years, probably had not had access to them. On some farms, acres are thus lost, so far as a profitable use is concerned, to their owners. These bushes and briars, unless vigorously combated, will encroach year by year upon the field. The only sure remedy seems to be to commence on the roadside, if the field is thus bounded, and make thorough work of them CULTURE OF SWEET POTATOES. on both sides. I will ask you, whoever you may be, who have such roadside fences, if it never oc- MR. EDITOR:-Why are we, New England farmcurred to you, that every intelligent, observing ers, so far behind the times in the cultivation of the passer by of your premises would look upon sweet potato? I know it is a prevalent opinion them with sorrow at their neglect, and regard you with many that it is a difficult task, it being apwith pity as being either devoid of understanding,parently too far removed from its native climate. or wanting in good taste. Call to mind some This opinion, I admit, would hold good against farms we know of in our several neighborhoods, most of the many varieties grown at the South, where we invariably see the fence corners piled but I am confident, from experience, that there are with brush and briars; wall, if any, overrun with varieties that can be grown profitably throughout the same, and often broken down. Old carts, the New England States. All we want is a variecart-wheels, plows and other farm implements, ty that will be edible at a very early stage of piles of wood, boards, barrels, and sometimes growth, cooking dry and good, when comparativemulch of various kinds, (gathered in other places,)ly immature. A variety called the Nansemond, I all commingled in the road, within a stone's cast think, possesses these merits, and has given good from the front door of the house. Pigs, poultry, paying crops 44° north. A very short time since and often other farm stock, also allowed the larg- it was thought impossible to cultivate the purple est liberty of the highway. Does such a state of egg plant with success, but we now find our cli

mate and soil well suited for them, and where the tracts from the works of the best authors upon egg plant can be grown, there is no douht of suc-stock, and evinces a deep interest in the topics cess with the sweet potato. which he handles so well. Upon the subject of steaming food for cattle, he says he is "satisfied from experience and from the testimony of some f our best practical farmers, that steaming is worthy of careful consideration."

The next paper is that of Dr. LORING, upon Cattle, Breeding and Feeding. This is a long, interesting and valuable report, illustrated by several excellent portraits of neat stock of various The volume closes with the Agricultural Stabreeds. The writer sustains his positions by ex-tistics of Massachusetts, arranged by Towns and