Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1870-12-23
Mark TtCdin Reports the Farmers
Club.

marx IfCUiH hepOFtSWe FdFWcTS
Club.
E.xConstablc Quinn desired the club To
inform him how to make hogs root.
DR.. Slow had been 4 practical farmer
for The last six weeks. and in all The vari-
ed agricultural experience. no such thing
as hogs root had ever come under his no.
ticc. What was ito Was it edible? Was
it useful in any way, or was it. rs he more
expected, another worthless humbug de-
vised By sharpers to defraud us practical
farmers? He knew not whether il was
propagaled by seed or by cuttings, but he
would advise Mr.. Quinn to be shy ofhog's
root, especially lift is new fashioned or
high priced tuber.
Mr. Mokci, tho agricultural writer, ex
planned the anatomy Oft hogs proboscis.
1t is designed tor subtcrrancan foraging
by process vulgarly called roofing, tn
which Mr.. Quin's inquiry probably referr.
cd. Being delicate organ ii is liable Ia
injury. He would recommend that Mr.
Quinn wiped his pigs nose. II lie finds
it red, he may be sure that it is tender
and needs protection by metallic shield
Some resort to the strategic device of in
scr,ing wire ring in the hogs nose, in
his efforts TO remove which, he would
naturally thrust his snout into the soil, and
thus root unwillingly. That was playing
ii rather low on the hog, and the metallic
shield was preferable on the score Of fair
dealing and philanthropy.
Mr. Greedy exhibited u pumpkin Of his
own raising. As it embodied his solitary
and crowning success. after several years
OF discouraging failure in pumpkin cnl'
ture, the club surrounded it with uncover.
cd heads, and mingled emotions of sur
prise. admiration and envy. IL was su.
perb fruit. and when Mr.. G.'s hat was
placed on it to illustrate the size and sym
etry. the hat and pumpkin seemed so per.
fccily adap,cdto each other. and together
produced IN effect so startling that sever.
al enthusiastic members swore they would
have known who raised that pumpkin ii
they had met it anywhere. 1t is to be
photographed by Quincy. and next year'g
Tribune subscribers will receive copies
The pumpkin was the Aa,tcring product
Of one bushel of seed planted on the farm
in Champagne. Soon after blossoming,
The vine manifested an inclination to
wither. 1t was thereupon transplantcd
10 large howcr-pot and removed to tho
town residence of ii founder. For somO
time it pincd and dropped, and they sat
up nights with it, expecting that every
moment would be its last, but every mo
mcnt turned out not TO he its last and
with careful nursing it finally rallied and
came TO maturity, rs cherished and
tough pumpkin as ever grew.
DR.. Sixhammers suggested that the re-
suit of Mr. G's indomitable struggle with
th. pumpkin. showed how every city
family cond provide itself with pumpkin
pie He hoped to sec the day when every
window. sill, in every city. would be
adorned with frucliiying pumpkin pots,
and every workman's cottage embowered
in pumpkin vines.
Thomas DOLL, Of New Hampshire,
writes TO the club that he is fifty years
old. inGrm with consumption, has n large
family. ten dollars in money, and wants
10 know what to do.
Mr.. Moker- Go out to Greeley Colony
and invest in irrigating ditch.
Mr.. Layman-Buy Texas rancho or a
Florida orange grove.
DR.. Sim5lc-IIis health requires light
farming in bracing climate. Let him
start IN indigo plantation in Alaska.
Mr.. Grcelcy-He mustn't come to New
York. His $40 wouldn't last year; but
out West he can invest it and grow up
with the country.