Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1868-09-23

| speakers who followed. IaVoreu 10 oin6
steamed hay instead of that IN dry state.
Nh Everett bad found that clover hay was
the best to feed stock if cut at the right
season. He could get the most milk from
cows that were fed on it. MIR. Hart OF Corn
wall, thought it doubtful about it being
best to feed moistened or steamed food. lie
had noticed that if he drank milk with his
supper it retarded digestion, and be thought
it must have the same effect with our am
mails. Mr.. Allen of East Windsor, thought
animals could be kept cheaply on the steamed
or cooked food, but he believed 1t would
destroy their constitutions. Keep them on
this method five years and they will lose
their teeth and their natural vigor. Hay
and roots are the most natural food, and
they would keep animals In the best condl-
ton On the subject of breeding ne thought
it was important to have sires OF superior
quality This fact was demonstrated by his
observation in his own town.
A New London gentleman thought Mr..
Birnie of Springfield had proved the con-
trary in relation to feeding cooked food.
Mr., Allen thought Mr.. Birnie's cattle de-
Perforated as soon as they went to other
stalls. Rev. Mr.. Wells of Pittsfeld came
to the defence of Mr.. BRINE, and thought
the was honorable man, and believed it
was only the poor animals that fell off, after
leaving his barns and not those of the best
quality Mr.. Everett thought it might do
tor fancy farmers to feed cooked food, but
he did not believe it would pay any practical
farmer in the long run. What are the teeth
OF our animals gwen them for, if it is not to
use them? Cut your hay in the right sea-
son, and you will find it filter for your stock
than feeding cooked food. MIR. Allen ex-
planned, and thought Mr.. Brine
honorable man, and what he said would be
relied upon, but still he did not agree with
him in relation to feeding cooked food.
The SAVING OF GARDEN SKEDs.-Many of
the seeds sufficiently matured this
month, and the work of saving them should
be begun before they burst their pods, and
are lost. 1t is quite possible to save better
seeds than We can buy and the habit of
carefulness in studying the habits of plants
secured by growing our own seed will be
worth much more to than the value of
the seeds. All our garden plants have been
greatly improved from their originals, aud
none of them probably have reached the lin
it, Of their perfection. They can be made to
mature earlier, and to produce more abund
antly, those who have made experiments
have learned. If the first well-developed
seed of plant be selected and sown for
several years, the offspring will mature
earlier, and eventually new variety will be
secured with a fixed early habit. If we
lect the longest pods OF a bean and plant
in the seed, we shall find the crop true to
its parentage, and more prolific sort will
iii time be established. 1t will take time and
patience to secure desirable changes, but
there is very great satisfaction in seeing our
labors result in permanent improvement in
our vegetables. 1t is little more trouble to
save the first mature cabbage, turnip, or
beet seed, and to keep it by itself, but 1T will
pay If one can get variety that will ripen
a week earlier. 1t is particularly important
to hasten the maturity of plants of tropical
origin, melons, squashes cucumbers, toma-
toes, elephants, etc. Select seeds from the
earliest perfect specimens and mark the re
suit. Experimental plants should have the
advantage of good soil, southern exposure
and frequent cultivation. plant with
predisposition to ripen its fruit early would
not have fair chance in cold clay soil, or
| upon northern western exposure II we
mean to fix the habit of early maturity, all
the circumstances must favor the growth of
the plant. Aside from the influence which
| the saving of our own garden seeds will have
| upon the improvement of fruits and vegetables,
| the habit itself is good one. 1t is exceed
| ingly convenient in the hurry of the spring
gardening to know just where you find
every package of seed you want TO plant, Sc
curely tied and labeled, with the name and
date Of gathering Tor this purpose let the
good housewife make up a few dozen paper
| bags, and have the packages stored away in
| the seed box