ever direction we turn our studies, and one be- Poetry, appropriate to the season rises readily comes appalled, almost, as he advances in life and to one's lips at such a time, as the song pours sees how perfectly every detail of the vast machin- from the swelling throats of the warbling birds, ery of the globe is constructed, and with what and it is nearly with the same exaltation of spirexactness their various offices are fulfilled. it that we begin a new agricultural year. The vivifying spell has been felt beneath the wave, And the feather'd race rejoices with a gush of tuneful bills; And if this cloudless arch fills the poet's song with glee, Horace Smith. FARM WORK FOR APRIL. The month of APRIL is the beginning of the agricultural year: that is, the farmer then enters And so we shall find it with the phenomena of the seasons: the snows of winter we are taught By the dormouse in its cell, and the mo`e within its cave; to regard as fleecy garments actually mantling And the summer tribes that creep, or in air expand their wings, the earth and keeping it warm, and the pinching Have started from their sleep at the summons of the Spring. droughts of summer are none the less valuable, The cattle lift their voices from the valleys and the hills, drawing up by evaporation to the surface where it will be available, the mineral wealth that lies too deep for the roots to reach. So this change from Winter to Summer, from Winter to Spring, indeed, is not by a leap but gradual. The old earth must yawn, and stretch, and get his eyes open, before he springs into full strength and vigor for the work he has to do. Let us be pa- resolutely upon those field labors which must tient, then, and remember what has been done. continuously occupy his attention through the Though all the little channels and pores may growing season, and until the ripened crops are be shut close enough by the frost now-for they gathered in, and winter again assumes the sway. often are on the first of April-presently the rain The labors of April to the farmer are somesoaks in a little way and the winds take up the thing like those of furnishing a ship for a long superfluous water; the sun begins to be felt, the voyage by the merchant. If he furnishes her moisture from below seeks the light and is car- well, puts in a liberal supply of provision and ried off by the wind again; the watery particles water, sees that every thing in the craft herself are presently distilled and return to the earth in is "staunch and trim," and that an intelligent warm rains. And thus these busy elements, air and resolute captain stands at the helm, it is reaand water, keep at their round of work till the sonable to indulge the hope that she should refrost is driven out of the ground, the earth is in turn in good time, freighted with such a harvest a fit state to go under the hand of the husband- as shall yield a fair profit on investments and man, and a subtle chemistry, whose mysteries we risks. are beginning to find out, has prepared the soil for another season of plenty. The popular mind long ago acknowledged the utility of these labors, and "the wisdom of many men" became crystalized, "by the wit of one" in the familiar proverb, "March winds and April showers And so it is with the farmer. If he is astir early in April, lays his plans with an intelligent foresight, and makes every thing "staunch and trim" for the summer voyage, he, too, may reasonably hope for such harvests as shall reward his intelligence, his skill, and his manual labor. Some of the things which his experience or his wisdom will suggest, will be to look early after the which has doubtless consoled many a little girl- Fences of the Farm.-As soon as the frost is philosopher for a stormy, disagreeable half-holi- out, and before the winds and sun have dissipated day in the spring. [The boys are intentionally the moisture so as to permit plowing to be done, . omitted; indeed, we fear they are more apt to let the brush, rail, or stone fences be put in good believe that "it always storms of a Wednesday order; not leaving "weak places," to invite a afternoon," while the promised flowers are not hungry animal to try his skill in getting over; half compensation enough for them.] because once over, and gaining a taste of your It is difficult to repress the feelings which the spring wheat or your clover, he will be strongly season naturally calls up in the least sentimental tempted to try it again and again. Make fences of us. After the grass has fairly clothed the strong and sure in the spring, if you would avoid meadows in their beautiful verdure again, when invasions of your fields while making hay or culthe sun rises clear and warm, the blue-birds are tivating green crops. flying from post to tree-top with their clear, li- Poached. This is a term often used by farmquid melody, the sparrows chirping and looking ers, and means, to be "trodden with deep footabout the hedges for new quarters, then does not steps." What do you think, reader, of the pracevery one feel that the season gives him a new tice of allowing cattle to roam at will over mowlease of life, that new health and strength are ris-ing lands in April? Do they receive any benefit, ing in his frame, that he has returned to a land- or the land any injury? scape that is familiar and welcomes him? Mowing Fields.-Delays in haying-time are ex pensive to avoid them, visit the mowing-fields they are up, hoe often and keep all the weeds and gather the broken twigs from trees, stones down. and rubbish of every kind. If the cattle ran in A little Garden, well tilled, will afford a world them last autumn, scatter their droppings now of convenient things. Just think of it! Early with a light beetle. asparagus, beans, beets, brussels-sprouts, cabPlowing. If drying winds and warm suns bage, carrots, celery, cucumbers, chives, egghave carried off the excessive moisture, so that plant, horse-radish, corn, lettuce, melons, mustard, upon turning up a spadeful of soil it will crum- onions, parsley, parsnips, peppers, peas, potatoes, ble to pieces, it is pretty good evidence that the pumpkins, radishes, rhubarb, spinage, squashes, King of agricultural implements, the Plow, may tomatoes, turnips, sage, sweet-marjoram, sweetnow be put in use. But for the benefit of inex-potatoes, strawberries, blackberries, currants, perienced operators, we say that they will do well gooseberries, raspberries, potatoes, &c. The famnot to be in a hurry. If the soil, upon being ily may find well nigh half its support from the turned up, remains flat and compact, it will be garden during the summer and autumn months. difficult to remove it from that condition during Get field crops in early.—Spring wheat, oats, the summer. It will be likely to remain in lumps, barley and corn, are better for being in as soon be uncomfortable to work upon, and will not ac- as the soil is in a fit condition to receive them. commodate the roots of your plants. But when The middle of June is early enough for millet, the land is right, "plow deep while sluggards winter squashes, and ruta bagas. Some delay sleep;” go half an inch deeper than last year; sowing carrot-seed until the last of May—our then you will have a loose, porous, inviting bed crops succeed better when earlier sown. for young roots to travel and feed in. Such a soil will admit heat and moisture, and those are For the New England Farmer. just what the seeds and young germs want,-and COAL TAR FOR CROWS. when the May showers come they will descend MR. EDITOR:-In the Farmer of the 26th ult., freely among the new roots, carrying warmth with them, and leaving a portion of moisture and am- Farmer;" he seems to have been tormented by appears an article on "The Crow," by "Young monia as they pass down into a lower stratum. this colored gentleman. It may be acceptable Then the young rootlets will open their mouths to him, and perhaps to others, to know how to and feed like a young child, and grow and send prepare their seed corn so that neither crows nor up their stems to find new joy in the light and air! Under such a condition of things the Spring Wheat, Oats and Barley ought to be in the ground; but the barley ought to be on a gravelly loam, rather than a black loam; it loves a warm, dryish soil. Wheat and oats do better on a soil not excessively manured. If land is laid to grass with them, it is probably better to apply only a light dressing at the time of sowing, and add a portion to the young grass in the autumn following. blackbirds, nor any other bird, will pull more than one or two grains. Have your corn all ready, take about a pailful of boiling hot water, and add to it about a pint of coal tar; stir, and let stand for two or three minutes, and turn in your seed corn; stir it round three or four times, then turn out into a sieve so as to roll your corn in ashes or plaster. All this must hold the corn together and let the water go; now be done in the shortest time possible; when the corn is taken out of the water each grain will have a light coating of tar, and by rolling in ashes or plaster it keeps it from sticking to the hands. Crows will not pull up much corn plant Early Potatoes. After all that has been said ed in this way. in favor of early peas, lettuces, cu sumbers, &c., Some may say that corn will not grow after we doubt whether there is any vegetable more such a hot water process; but to such I would MUMFORD. grateful to the palate, or more healthful to the say try and see. Whitinsville, Worcester Co., Mass., Dec. 29, 1857. system, than a good mealy potato in July. Well, you can have them on your table "on the gloriREMARKS.-We are obliged to correspondents ous Fourth," if you set about it on the first of for several articles on "The Crews," which we April. How? Bring as many potatoes as you cannot publish at present. They are well writwish to plant into the kitchen, or any other warm ten, and amusing, but contain no special facts place, in a box or barrel, and sprinkle a little fine that could be brought into practical use. The loam, or old, fine compost among them, and keep article above distinctly specifies how some of the the light out. In a short time they will sprout, ravages of the crow may be prevented, and is, then plant them in a warm, sheltered place, and therefore, laid before the reader. on new ground if possible. Or, spread the potatoes on the grass in a warm nook, and cover The Cincinnati (Ohio) Gazette states that a them with horse-manure deep enough to keep bill has passed the Senate of that State prohibiting them warm, and when sprouted plant them. The the intermarriage of first cousins. That paper says soil for them should be pretty rich, and when that public sentiment is in favor of that measure. 156 prey. NEW ENGLAND FARMER. For the New England Farmer. BY S. P. FOWLER. tile movements, which being noticed by the lady As it MR. EDITOR:-Upon examination of the bird I send you to-day, you will probably not at once by a blow upon the head. Such is the bold and discover anything very remarkable in its general burglarious daring of the bird before you. appearance; you cannot fail, however, to notice stands in some of our ornithological works, at Mr. that it has a large head and a sharp and strong the head of the order of insectivorous birds, it beak, that betokens a life spent in bloody deeds. may claim some favor from agriculturists. But when you look at its feet you will see no cor- Wilson supposed that its principal food was inresponding talons, that we always find in birds of sects, particularly grasshoppers, and that it preyed Its wings also are short and rounded, only upon birds in winter. I am of the opinion which renders it incapable of soaring and indulg- that it would not hesitate, when pressed by hunger, ing in a prolonged flight, and you are perplexed, to attack any small quadruped, as I have noticed it may be, to know where to class the bird, or it watching around a hog-yard, and endeavoring judge of its character by its points developed. to seize the vermin that infested it. Its note is And it would not be surprising, even after you as singular as its habits, being like the creaking were well acquainted with its habits, to find this of a sign-board hinge! But it is time, perhaps, difficulty of classification increased. Ray, Buf- that I should close this communication, by anfon, Brisson, Linnæus and Latham long ago could nouncing the name of the smart little bird you not agree in what order the birds of this genus hold in your hand, and give some accounts of its should be classed. Some of our ornithologists of breeding habits. It is the Great American Shrieker or Butcher the present day, from the fact of its preying upon insects, class it in the order of insectiverous Bird, (Lanius borealis vieill.) During winter it birds. But if the exhibition of rapacity, connect- is not uncommon in Massachusetts. Retires to ed with unnecessary cruelty, give character to a the forest to breed, builds a large nest, the female bird, it should be classed with the rapacious birds. laying six eggs of a greenish white color, thickly All animals that kill for the pleasure of killing, marked with pale brown spots. and more than suffices them for food, must be considered cruel. That broad head of our bird, armed with a strong and heavy beak, and moved Danvers-Port, Feb. 10, 1858. MEETING. [REPORTED FOR THE N. E. FARMER BY ZENAS T. HAINES.] by strong muscles, situated in its neck, when FOURTH LEGISLATIVE AGRICULTURAI thrown back, inflicts a stunning blow like a slungshot, or breaks the skull of its victim, usually a small bird. After it has satisfied its appetite, it continues to kill, and hangs up its dead in the THE PREPARATION AND APPLICATION OF MANURES. At the Fourth Legislative Agricultural Meetcrotches of small trees and bushes to decay. It has been thought by some ornithologists that our bird is provident by thus making provision for ing, held last Tuesday evening, Hon. Mr. PHELPS its future wants, that it is in fact hanging up its of the Senate, presided. On taking the chair he game, like an epicure, to ripen and grow tender. remarked that he had no practical knowledge of But such does not appear to be the fact, as it feeds agriculture, and consequently had no suggestions only on fresh-killed meat. It likewise has the to offer. The subject of the proposed discussion singular habit of impaling grasshoppers upon the of this evening was one of great interest to those thorn bush. I have seen some of this hung dried meat .n my rambles in boyhood. A lady a few dwelling on the sterile soil where our lot had been weeks since showed me a Yellow Rumped Warbler, cast. Mr. FLINT, Secretary of the Board of Agriin its winter plumage, that was found hanging by the neck in a crotchet twig of an alder, no doubt culture, was the first speaker introduced. He replaced there by the bird under consideration. Its marked that the subject of the preparation and usual method, as we have before said, of killing its prey, is by breaking the skull with its beak, application of manures was the great basis of of my acquaintance informed me that during the ly required its protection from the forty-eight ammonia as a fertilizer was dwelt upon, and the N. A. RICHARDSON, of Winchester, bore testispeaker mentioned the recent discovery of the mony to the value of muck in a pulverized condimechanical and chemical power of the earth to tion. He had found the effect of the pulverized absorb and retain ammonia. In conclusion, Mr. muck far more powerful than muck in a raw conFLINT read a letter in relation to the general sub-dition. He had found nothing so valuable as ject, from J. W. PROCTOR, of Danvers, who muck in making a compost. It was true that thought the manure used on a farm should, as "meadow muck is the mother of the meal chest." nearly as possible, be made from what the farm Guano was a convenient and pretty manure før produces. flowers, but not suited to farming purposes. It Rev. Mr. SANGER, of Dover, was very favora- had not the necessary bulk, heart and permably impressed with this idea in the note of Mr. nence. PROCTOR, and fully acceded to it. Peat mud he Mr. DAVIS, of Plymouth, said fresh muck was deemed a valuable manure, and particularly adap- a valuable manure for grass land. Very much ted to the region where it was found, from the depended upon the locality and character of the fact that it consisted of the washings, the leaves, mud as well as of peat as to its effects. In his secand other accumulations of the land in the vicin- tion he believed that muck furnished the foundaity. The speaker had found great benefit from tion for cultivating the soil. They had found that this manure on sandy lands. It was excellent in sea-weed put into their potato hills had a very the growth of corn, potatoes and fruit trees. He favorable effect. It equalized the moisture, and would have it dug and exposed to the frost one the potato grew large and mealy, even in very or two winters. In regard to its effect on fruit sandy soil. Ammonia water and lime from gastrees, he has found it would make them bear works might doubtless be made valuable manures. well even on sandy and dry lands. As to the ap- Mr. J. W. PROCTOR, of Danvers, spoke of the plication of manures, he preferred to have only cultivation of the Derby farm in Salem. Twenty a portion applied broadcast, and the remainder acres manured with a compost of night soil, barn in the hill, where it would give the plant an early manure, &c., yielded a profit of $200 to the acre, and vigorous start. in garden vegetables. People in Salem and Mr. ALLEN, of Oakham, remembered when the Marblehead found sea-weed a valuable auxiliary. barn-yard was almost the only resource for man- Home materials were abundant, and there was no ure. It was once deemed important to cart out necessity to go away from home for manures. and pile up the manures previous to their appli- Col. HAWKS, of Deerfield, thought the best cation, for the purpose of more finely pulverizing mode of applying manures depended upon the them. When he merely cultivated a garden, he soil. On clayey land he found it best to plow found the water from the wash-tub, sink, &c., a under the manure. On meadow land he would valuable and important manure. both plow in and spread on the top. He had DAVID DAVENPORT, of Mendon, kept a horse had experience with guano, and found it better and cow on three acres of land, and had more than on sandy land than heavy land. It was better they could eat. Yet all his manure was derived for broom corn than Indian corn, and was exfrom the fluids created on his farm. His mode hausted the first year. of preparation was to add water, and then plaster, JOSIAH QUINCY, Jr., of Boston, had been into fix the ammonia, after which it was distributed formed by Dr. DANA, the great authority in muck over the land from a hogshead. He had found matters, that salt water muck might be more valswamp mud, applied to sandy plain land, with uable than fresh water muck. He would like to ashes, in the proportion of thirty bushels of mud have the experience of gentlemen on this point. to one barrel of ashes, a valuable manure. It Mr. DAVIS was now engaged in digging salt would make corn, even on that land, produce full and fresh peat, and recommends farmers to eman average crop. He had found this plain land ploy laborers in the same work. It could be done productive of potatoes, with a previous crop of at this season, and furnish aid to the poor unemclover, stimulated by mud and ashes, and then ployed. The frost offered no impediment to the turned in as a manure. The potatoes were sound. prosecution of the work. Mr. HARVEY DODGE, of Sutton, spoke of the B. V. FRENCH, of Braintree, said a cord of importance of using subsoil as an absorbent of good animal manure was worth more than eight the water collecting in barn-yards. It was hun- dollars to a farmer. He had a good deal of faith gry for ammonia. The speaker believed there in meadow muck to be used in a compost. He was no necessity for Massachusetts farmers to go thought considerable was to be derived from peat. off after guano and phosphates. They had the ad- It was estimated that there were 700,000 acres of equate materials at home, and could not afford muck meadow in Massachusetts. They were to buy manures. The grass crop was the most found near sandy lands. He accounted for their exprofitable crop in New England. istence in the fact of their being in hollows, which had collected leaves and other floating substances. ture; what, when and where to reap. And can To get rid of the acid he would mix the mud with person ignorant of all this, expect to succeed in any part or in all? As well might the country horse manure. They could no more expect to youth expect to be benefited in the merchant's get good crops from our soils unaided by manure, counting-room-as well might the student in adthan to make good bread without good yeast. dition, suppose because he used a slate that he The application of ground bone was of great could do all that can be done on a slate-as a value in the production of cabbages, &c. Guano person not used to, and not acquainted with the should never be sowed in windy weather, but it soil, can suppose himself to excel in agriculture. What must the farmer do to better himself and would be well to apply it during a rain. He had farm? Study interestedly, by obtaining inforplowed in manures to the depth of nine inches, mation from experienced and skilful agriculturand lost it. There was a mystery, he said, in the ists; by reading and observation; and by a judipractice of agriculture. He had concluded, after cious expenditure of labor and money upon the scil; and when he has made his farm what a farm considerable observation and experience, that ma- should be, he may expect to be able to live in a nure had better be covered one inch than four better manner than any of his neighbors; and inches. Every means should be used to save ma- not till then. nures-liquid and solid. Chemists agreed that When I hear a man raising objections to an the first was as valuable as the latter. The speaker agricultural paper, I observe his farm, and am questioned whether the water from the city sew-erful objections to farming, in a very unconscious, generally sure to find that he is raising very powers had sufficient fertilizing properties to warrant and as we say, in a very hereditary, honor-thycarrying it any great distance. father way. Mr. FLINT presented to the meeting a statement given him by Mr. NOURSE, founded on data suggested in previous remarks by Mr. FLINT, by which it would appear that the annual loss in liquid manures was $15 a year to each cow, or $3,900,000 a year on all the cattle in the State. Ex-Gov. BOUTWELL asked Mr. FLINT if by that calculation the value of the liquid manure would not pay for the keeping of the cattle. The question was considered very pertinent, and created some merriment, but was not answered. E. For the New England Farmer. LAYING DOWN INUNDATED LANDS. MR. EDITOR-I am puzzled, somewhat, to know how to treat a piece of land I broke up last fall, and having no one to advise with, I take a subscriber's liberty to request that you will help me out of my difficulty. The piece of land in question is a part of my meadow (intervale), and has been mowed for a number of years. The soil is rich and light, but overflows every spring, (lying rather low,) so Mr. SPARHAWK, of Boston, said that so far that it is late in the season before I can get on it. his experience went, there was no such thing as My wish is to get it into grass again as soon as a specific manure for a specific crop. He pre-mossy turf before I plowed it, and yielded_but a possible, after manuring it well. It had a thick, ferred to apply manures in the fall. as small quantity of fine, miserable grass. I had W. J. BUCKMINSTER, of the Ploughman, exhib- thought that it would be a good plan to harrow ited a novelty in the shape of a box of very su- it thoroughly in the spring, then sow on grass perior butter, wrought into various fanciful de- seed, and a heavy coat of guano, having no crop from it until I cut the grass again the next year's signs, such as shells, scrolls, &c., well calculated summer. My object in sowing no grain was, that to ornament a tea-table. The butter was sent by I might not lessen the strength and vitality I PETER SWALLOW, of Dunstable, and elicited a hoped to get from the guano. But I have heard good deal of praise for its beauty and sweetness. so many conflicting opinions in regard to this maAt the next meeting the discussion of the sub-nure and the manner of using it, that I am unject of manures will be resumed. For the New England Farmer. decided, as yet, as to whether I have chosen the best plan. I could sow oats on the upturned turf in the spring, I suppose, and by plowing it in the fall and manuring heavily with stable manure the next spring, have the ground in pretty good order; but the river washes over it so much, it is so late before I can do anything with it in MR. EDITOR:-Owing to the high value of the spring, and I am so limited in my supply of the farmer's productions, many mechanics have stable manure, that, all things considered, I am recently left their business and taken farms, with the anticipation of making a fortune immediate- very desirous to lay it down before the water has much time to injure it. And yet I want it rich, ly; and living with that ease and luxury which so that I wont be obliged to disturb it again for they imagine country people enjoy. They should some years. remember that all ought to understand the busi-will much oblige, If you can tell me what to do, you Yours, respectfully, ness best that they have been the longest time engaged in; and that if any one from any other business would prefer farming, let him begin understandingly. Montreal, January, 1858. JOSEPH GOULD. REMARKS.-We have a ten-acre field in pre He should know what, when and where to be- cisely the same condition,-lying on the river's gin to plant; what, when and where, in the cul- bank, and subject to overflow every spring. Our |