The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1868-07-31
The Fo, Contributor ON a farm.

Tho aFat Contributor" is in Centra
New York looking ainsra farm he has there
Tie Is much interested in asnculture-in
tends to follow It when hc rctircs from pub
lie life. He writes us ns follows;
WrsrMoarLAND, UrEpiA Co, N.Y.. I
May l8, 1868. I
I am deeply employed In agriculture
at present, and charmed with every thing
pertaining 10 II. The daily labor Of my
hired man arc giving vigor to my frame
that ! haven't known for years, hronzing
my face with tho ruddy hue Of you thfu
toll. Aner observing him from my window
for couple ofhours, rs he follows the plow
It is astonishing what an appetite have io'
dinner.
I attended a meeting Of the "farmen
Club" the other day, and was much inter
ested in the suggestions offered. There i
no iormality about these meetings, every
one being at liberty to present such facts
and suggestions rs he pleases.
This being The planters season, discus
sion naturally laid in that direction. How
10 keen away worms from corn, was d
prominent theme. II. O. Handle, Of Rem
son, strongly recommended that seed corn
be soaked in vitriol, 20 that instead OF the
worms eating up tho coru the yitriol would
cat up tho worms.
I suggested that the corn he soaked in
vermifuge, which is said TO bo q good thing
to drive away worms.
Kurnel O'Korn, Of Squasl, Bush, said he
usually stuffed the worms will, worm loz-
enges, (ot which they arc I'assionately fond)
while the corn Is growing. Common grat'
itude keeps them from eating the corn al
ter that.
The gr,lb.worm was taken up and dis
cllssed. Some said ashes would fix him.
Luke Coan, OF westrnoreland, said the
grubs on his farm liked ashes-got fat on It.
lie said he put ashes on every hill of corn
in ten.acrs of It. The grubs went al the
ashes and devonred Il nearly an fast as they
could nut IL on. That night ho was ava.
kcned by loud knocking ut the door and
prent hallooing. II was the gri'bs. They
had come up to the house IN body, do
nIanding more ashes
A farmer wanted to know the best pro.
lection against crows. Scarecrows arc ol
no avail, now he said. Since fashion pre-.
scribes such outrageous attire for men and
women. scarccrows are too common. Ono
man said he kept carrion m lot adjoining
his corn field-for where the carrion IN
there will tho crows br, also ! The only
trouble is II makes the neighbors carry on
about IL.
There was considerable discussion as Ia
the l,est way to put in corn. Some Thought
II should only he done late at night hut II
was finally settled that eleven o'clock In the
forenoon was the proper time. IL being
about that hour, the club adjourned to a
grocery across the street and put in their
.c0m." %.
spring gardening was discussed at some
length. A farmer from Utica thought II
would he better to do spring gardening 10
the fall when they weren't drove 80.
The President Of the club was requested
to give his views about the proper way TO
make garden beds. He said il was some.
thing that he didn't worry about; he had
the chaInbermai,l make tho beds.
The various kinds Of patent rakes were
commented upon. Farmer Bronson Of
Clinton, who had lost un arm in service,
said he rnked bis garden with "grape and
canister" Farmer Jonbeersley, Of tho same
town, was of the opinion that four acres
would @rakc 'er" ,lown every time.-Somc.
body recommended mand rakcs.
A communication was read designed to
show that a Wheeler & Wilson sewing ina.
chine was the best to "sow" wheat with.
A.hen
The diseases of cattle wns subject OF
discussion. For horn niles 1t wns recon-.
mended 10 fill the horn with gIlnpow,ler
and touch Il off Farmer Buell., OF Will.
istoro, said he used II for that complaint in
his head, and lo hadn't heard nny com
plaint since. Hc said l'o had rather have u
horn to) alo himself tlian sec Ills cattle s''f
for with IL.
Iron WINS said to be an excellent tonic for
COWS Dairymcn usc n great deal OF II
when they have chain pumps.
In trimming trees, II was decided that II
was better to consult an experienced dress.
maker. Dress makers arc posted in the
spring style of trimming. Some people
wouldn't know my better than to put lilac
trimming on cherry trees or cherry trim.
nings on lilac bushes. So am ], TOO.
Il wns remarked that trees. to do well,
should be set out properly. An old farmer
from Floyd said all the "sctting out" his
wife had when no married her wns feather
bcd. and hc pointed triumphantly to nine
boys and gal whether she had done well
or not.
Mr.. Dankusnan, Of Lnihsville, said he
wasn't much ut setting out trees, but he
could sci out any fcllcr in Oneida county
sitting up with the gals. Motion adopted.
An honest old farmer from Vernon, MIR.
Jordan, complained that the farming com.
munity were constantly being gulled by
worthless patent rights. He had got his
house full Of patent churns and his barn full
of patent forks, all Of them worthless. A
man sold him churn the other day. war
nntcd to bring butter tfrom any distance)
in thirty seconds. lie worked at Il three
days and three nights and then had to bave
his butter brought from Utica, on the stnge,
Farmer O'Spattcrn, Of Hampton, made
similnr complaint. He said ho was induced
by promise Of marriage. TO buy patent
tightening rod that wns said to NOW, husk
corn, chop wood, fodder the cattle, and
draw cider-nll ut tho same tirnc. lie
brought it home, but il hadn't donc any.
thing but lay around tho house an'l icai
novels ever since.
CIarkpot,er. Of Marry, had bought corn:
shelter, warranted to take of corns and
bunions. Ittook them NIL hack again. No
corn shel.Iation in that.
Club adjourned 10 meet next week nj two
o'clock. "FAr CoSraisuroR