Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1846-01-01
A CHAPTER ON APPLES.

Cl1APIER ON APPLES.
The great advantage of fruit raising to the far
mer, has been often commended through our col
umns. 1t is not our intention to enlarge upon its
general merits at present, but to conine what we
have to say to the subject Of apples alone
The apple is, beyond all question, the king of
fruits; as wheat and the potato are of grain and
roots lie some of its varieties, it keeps
hroug hout the three hundred and sixty five DAYS of
the year, and long after the earliest June .eatinp
and sweet-bough with their glossy sides and fra
grant odlr, are offered in the market, the piles of
smooth greetings and rough golden-coated russets
with all the tirmness and substantial merits of We
terans Of 10 are tempting the eye and olfactores
of every behoder by their plump and but Just ma
tuied Po'NCciVne. L. Is 70 tnls quality Of endur-
ngnesS, that much of the merits of the apple are
due But much more 1t may Justly claim, IN its
luscious flavor and heaithful Influences and its be-
culiar ilaptatlon TO so large and varied uses BE-
sldc the thousandand-one varieties of dishes of
winch 1t forms the sole, principal, or subordinate
part IN the economy Of the sklful housewife il con-
tributes greatly towards the interest of the farmer
IN ptohts from It's SALE and use food for his stock
Ihe proht from feeding the surplus of an extern
slVe orchard OF fine fruit to stock flor fine fruit is
as much better for animals as it for their owners
has become an item of careful estimate, since the
nearly general Abandonment of the wasteful, sot.
tlsh system OF cder-making. 1t was the rule. we
oelleve, that to II bushels of apples would make
one barrel OF cider, and 8 to IL barrels of cider
one barrel of cider brandy. The former was made
to the halves while, perhaps, gallons of the lat
ter might be returned as full equivalent for bar
rel OF the former. Two gallons of miserable houd
poison, under the name Of cider brandy, was with
IN less than generation SINCE the product of to
| IL bushels Let us sec how the case staods nv
the touchstone OF figures. Eight bushels of good
apples land 1t is cheaper raising good apples than
poor,) arc worth IN an average of seasons, 81 70
cents per bushe, m the orchard 50 for the whole
while the two gallons of brandy would be worth a.
bout the same price of whskey, say so cents diff
terence IN favor OF selling the apples, using them
lor some appropriate purpose, six to one Verify
the present age has improved some in pocket as
well as morals.
The value Of apples, however, for feeding to
stock, Is not equal TO that for selling whenever
good market Is within reach. The early droppinps
should be invariably fed to the stock as besides
their general worthessness for other purposes from
their immaturity, they frequently contain worms,
which their consumption by stock effectually de-
sroys. The most economical way of providing for
this, Is to allow swine to run at large in sufficient
numbers to consume all the first droppings These.
with the otial of the dairy, and good clover pas
tuTe, with trlfe OF meal, thoroughly soured with
the whey or Stops, will put good breed of hogs in
to fine condition, u kept out of The road, by the
time peas, potatoes and corn are sufficiently ma
tured to begin their fall feeding. 1t there should
be any surplus of apples, beyond what may be
more proiitaby disposed Of these NAV be fed to the
tatenlng porkers, either raw or cooked, with GER
tain advantage. The exact equivalent in grain or
roots, for pork or beef making, has not been as
certalned with sufficient accuracy to be here sta
ted, but that they stand high in fateninp proper-
ties, Is beyond doubt: while the quality of meat
they produce, Is of the highest flavor
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 fleece, but they are more
particularly profitable for such as are intended for
mutton. run in an orchard is an excellent prep.
aratoh nor heavier feed at later period in the sea-
SON. and richer or more highly favored mutton can
not be produced than is afforded from such as have
inns lood continued to them I'LL ready for the sham
bes
Mich COlrS thrive OH them exceedingly. though
they should never be allowed to run among the
Trees IRON their lujurlng the limbs and their abll-
NY to be choked IN taking the apples from an ele-
waited position. The milk from cows SO fed, is no.
ted for It's richness aud delicious flavor For work |
ING cattle and such as intended for beef they
are nearly as valuable.
Horses are also exceedingly fond Of apples, and |
few kinds OF stock are more benefited by their use
They are full substitute for grain with hay, when
not too hardly used, and it has been found from lonp
experience and careful observation that their health
Is better when so fed their coat is smoother and
more glossy; and that they are equally spirited.
The quality of apples has much to do with their
value; though probably not more than that of roots
and grain Such kinds should be selected for feed.
ing, IT that be the object which are, as a general
rule, the most profitable for sale; as they will be
found TO combine the best flavor with the most sub.
stance, Sonr 'N"'o7 N7T :, proved ton