Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1846-12-03
agricultural.
A Chapter on Apples

The great advantage of Embarrassing to the
farmer has often been commenced through our
columns.-Itis not our intention to enlarge upon
its general merits at present, but to con6ue what
we have to say to the subject of apples alone.
The apple is, beyond question, the king of
fruits, as wheat and the potato are Of grain and
roots In some one or more of its varieties, it
keeps throughout the three hundred and sixty
five days of the year, and long after the earliest
June-eating and sweetborough, with their glossy
sides and fragrant odor, are offered in the mar
ket, the piles of smooth greetings and pipins,
aud rough coated russeIs, with all the fneness
and substantial merits of veterans of '76, are
tempting the eye and ofactores of every behold
er by their plump and just matuIed perlectons.
1t is to this quality of enduringness, that much
of the merits the apple are due. But much
more it may justly claim, in its luscious flavor
md heahluI influences, and peculiar adoption
to so large and varied uses. Besides the thou
sand-and.one varieties of dishes of which forms
The sole, principal, or subordinate part of the
economy of the skilltul housewife, it contributes
greatly toward the interest of the farmer by the
profits from its sale, and its use as food for his
stock
The profit from feeding the surplus Of an ex-
lensve orchard of fine lru to stock (lor fine
fruit is as much better for animals as it is for
their owners,) has become an item of careful es-
timate, since the nearly general abandonment of
the waStelul, scottish system OF cider making 1t
was the rule we believe, that tol2 bushels of
apples would make one barrel Of cider, that 8 to
~ barrels of cider one barrel of cider brandy.
The former was made to the halves, wh1, per-
haps, two gallons of the latter might be returned
as a full equivalent for barrel of the former.
Two gallons of miserable liquid poison, under
the name of cider brandy, was, within less than
generation since, the product of 8 to IL BUSH
els of apples Let us see how the Case stands
by the ouchstone of figures. Eight bushels Of
good apples (and it is cheaper raising good APP
pies than poor) are worth in an average of sea-
sons, 81 l-2 cents bushel in the orchard, or
SO for the whole; while the two gallons of bran
dy would be worth about the same price as whis-
key, say so cts. Difference in favor of selling
the apples, or using them for some appropriate
purpose, six to one. Verify the present age has
improved some in pocket as well as in morals
The value of apples, however for feeding to
stock is not equal to that for selling, whence Ell
good market is within reach. The early drop
pings from trees should be invariably fed TO
stock; as besides their general worthlessness for
other purposes from their immaturty. they fire.
quendy contain worms, which their consumption
by stock effectualIy destroys The most eco
nomical way for providing for this is to allow
swine to run at large in sufficient numbers to
consume the first droppngs. These, with the
offal of the dairy, and good clover pasture,
with trihe of meal thoroughly sollred with
whey or Slips, will put a good breed of hogs in a
fine condition, if KEPT out Of the road by the
time peas potatoes, and corn, are sufficiently
matured to begin their fall feeding If there
should be any surplus Of apples, beyond what
may be more proftabIy disposed OF, these may
be fed to the fatlening porkers, either raw or
cooked, with certain advantage The exact
equivalent, in grain or roots, for pork or beef
making, has not been ascerained with sufficient
accuracy to be stated here but that they stand
high in iattening properties, is beyond doubt;
while the quantity of meat they produce is of the
highest quality.
Sheep may be substituted for swine in ranging
through the orchard and picking up the diseased
and immatured fruit They will not hurt store
sheep either in flesh or in fleece, but they are
more particularly profitable for such as are in.
tended for mutton--A run in the orchard is an
excellent preparation for heavier food at later