Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1860-02-14
Lecture Before the Grafton Farmers club.

The farmers of Grafton recently organized
a club with Jonathan Warren, Esq, as presi-
dent, Hon. Charles Brigham as vice-president,
and j. P. Stone as secretary. The first lecture
before the club was delivered by Hon. Jabez
Fisher, under the auspices of the State Board
of Agriculture. Hon. SIMON Brown of Con
cord, delivered the second lecture before the
club, on the evening of the 9TH inst He COM
menced by stating the Importance of farmers
clubs, and of the best methods of conducting
their meetings, recommending the selection of
three or four speakers in advance, to present
the subject for discussion at each meeting, and
the choice of one member to present an essay
on any practical subject connected with agri
culture at the succeeding meeting He also
alluded to the habits of backwardness and re-
serve acquired by farmers, on account of their
generally isolated residences, and said he had
seen statistics showing that farmers as a class
were more liable to insanity, than other class
es, which he accounted for by the fact of their
brains being overpowered by their own
thoughts, with no chance to develope or ex-
press themselves The lecturer then treated
at some length of the advantages of draining
moist lands thoroughly. There were water
tables at the hard pan which should be drain
ed, by laying tiles, which were cheapest, at the
depth of four feet Fields covered with water,
standing in pools had been drained in twenty
minutes They carried manures and warmth
into the earth, and night dews condensed on
| L., H.. FL
in the porous soil.
He believed, changing to the subject of Hor-
ticulture, that ct some future time grapes
would be preserved in winter as apples now
are They were healthy fruit, especially
for children, who would be healthier and more
intelligent by eating them daily. Consump-
ton could be prevented b the use of more
fruit and less meat Grapes were excellent
for sick people, who generally like them.
More grapes should be raised. The Isabella,
he said, is too tender of frosts in our latitude
also the Caiawba. The Rebecca-a fine
grape--s grown successfully at the West,
though not so well in New England as the
Concord-the very best for our climate, being
hardy, prolific, and of excellent quality, MAX
ing wine, equal if not superior to foreign.
Good corn soil is generally good grape soil.
1t also likes soil of granite Or volcanic for.
nation. They should be thinned in their
fruitage, as the tendency of the vine is to set
more fruit than could be matured.
The cranberry was an excellent fruit, and
| should be cultivated more extensively, not
only as luxury, but as profitable to the grow.
err The cranberry is now confined to small
portion of New England. 1t can be grown in
Massachusetts successfully, and perhaps in the
other states. 1t has been grown on Long Is
land, but the best soil for this berry is found
on Cape Cod, where the cranberry grows to
perfection. The best readily command SIS
per barrel. They are grown on sandy salt
marshes, where the salt water of the ocean can
be used to protect them from frosts and insects.
The best soil for them was a swamp SOIL I'M
derlaid by white sand. Spread on gravel or
sand, to prevent grass and weeds from grow
ing, and set plants ten to twelve inches apart.
The audience returned a unanimous vote of
thanks to Mr.. Brown, at the close of his inter-
esting and useful lecture. "Is Farming Profit
able ?' is the subject for discussion at the ad-
journed meeting this TUESDAY evening.