Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1867-09-20
agricultural.
CUTTING CORNsTALKs.

The practice Of cutting corA stalks, OF top.
ping corn, is very common in this State, and
we believe generally in New knglsnd. There
are, however, various opinions in regard To-
the practice. II is argued, and very ressona-
bly,, that it is natural for the stalks to grow on
the corn until it iipens, that the ears fill
better and that the kernel Ia sounder on corn
with uncut stalks.
This is cur own experience in climates sui-
fciently warm to allow the corn to ripen, or
in seasons when the frost is long delay ed ,or
when an early variety il grown. The labor
Of harvesting is diminished by leaving the
stalks uncut, and If he corn is cut up al the
right time uefofe the leaves are dried, the fod-
der is quite ar good
The only advantage then in cutting the
stalks is the more rapid ripening Of the crop,
thereby securing it against injury from irosts,
As general practice them, in this climate,
we are compelled to declare in favor Of top
ping the corn
On this subject we copy the following
While we have no doubt that the corn is
injured by this practice. we DO not hesitate TO
recommend it, We lose something in the
weight Of kernel. but gain in The fodder and
materially in managing the future harvest; IL
is worth while perhaps, TO 50 little more
particularly INFO he matter.
The leaves of plants perform two important
functions evaporation. which principally is
effected by the lower surface. and by which
the water that has been absorbed by the roots
aud absorbe vessels is carried off in part,
leaving the residre in the form OF conoentra-
ted juices and secord,tespiralion, by which
caIbonic acid is taken into the circulation Of
the plant and performs in important parting
the conversion Of the proper juices, aud in
preparing the nutritious quality Of the fruit.
This process must ofoourse cease when the
parts which perform tho flee are destroyed.
II would seem that such must be the ell, Ct
produced by topping corn and though the
proper process may still 60 on by means Of
the few leaves that are left below the topping
yet it will be feeble and partial, the corn will
ripen by evaporation merely or rather, both
the evaporation and the respiration will be
diminished, to the consequent injury to the
grain, which will have less Of the nutritious
property, and lees weight; will be more liable
TO ierment, and the loss more in weight 10y the
end Of winter. BY the process named, the
proper secretons of the plant are in ripening
rapidly converted into sugar and SO far a. the
topping checks the respiration, it would also
diminish the sacoharine quality and render hte
corn less agreeable TO The taste, ss well as less
nutritious. But after having tried both ways
we incline TO the opinion hat the loss is less
to top it, than to suffer the top to stand, and
dry up and realize the inconvenience in har
vesting. me. Farmer.
The LOST sHEKP.-An interesting custom,
which has prevailed for more than hundred
years in the extensive range Of moor in Der.
byshne, Cheshire, and Yorkshire, is the AZ
nual summer meeting OF the shepherds, bring
ing with them tue sheep that have strayed in
TO their focks, and restoring them TO their
rightiul owners. Every Goth Of July the meet
ings are held and as they are entirely differ
ent from any other gatherings, and have not
hitherto been described, notice Of the last
may not be out of place. The appointed place
for assembling on the Goth ult., was the sal
tersbrook turnpike-rosd, distant rather more
than two miles from the Dunford- bridge station
on the Manchester, She field and Lincolnsh hire
railway, and at point near where the three
counties above-nemed meet. On walking from
the station across the moor the turnpike road
was reached, and then, after a long march up
hill, a sharp angle Of the road trough the visi-
tor into the midst OF a colony of dogs, num-
bering from so to 100, nearly all fine pecmens
| Of the sheep-dog breed. They were playing
qusIieling, and few having quiet round
to themselves. Not far from them we've their
owners, each with long stick, by which the
shepherd indicate TO his dog in many instances
what he Is required to do. After psr,aking
of good dinner, provided by Mr. Taylor, a
large moorland proprietor and sheep breeder,
the men, with their dogs, proceeded to a large
yard, in which there were about 100 sheep
which had stGayed away Zach animal was
examined, and claimed by certain marks and
indications, the dogs occasionally appearing to
recognize some Of the truants. In the course
OF bali an hour, with the exception Of two OF
three, all the animals had found their way
back to their lawful owners and shortly after
the shepherds with their dogs and found sheer
! departed for their respective stations, mile,
distant and far apart, most OF them not 70 mee
again for months, or until they once more as
sembled, bringing with them the lost ones ant
claiming then own truants.
GENUINE CURE FOR TooTHAoBR.-Thos,
or our readers who have felt the excruciatiny
pangs Of this disease, and who, like ourselves
have experienced but little human sympath,
on such occasions, will no doubt be gratide,
TO be in possession Of a remedy which will il
all probability forever quiet the unmereifu
offender. On one occasion, while laoorlnl
under the torture OF this distressing disease
a friend entered the room, and after lesrnin.
the cause Of our suffering. exclaimed, why
my dear friend, can cure you in five minutes
How 2 Have you any alum 2 Yes 'Bdn.
il. and some common salt They were pro
( duced. Our friend pulverizsd them, and mix
ed so as to adhere and placed it in the hol
low tooth. There, said he, III that does no
cue you will forfeit my head. 1t was as b.
,aedicted On the introduction Of the nike,
alum and salt, sensation Of ooldness wa
experienced, which gradually subsidized, an'
with il the torment OF the tootbache. -Phl