Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1871-01-26

living near Atlduld pldulcu du OICudTu vi
three hundred Shockley apple trees in
1862. In 1865 he raised enough fruit for
his family during the winter. The amount
increased yearly, and in 1869 he sold his
crop of apples for 5000. He confidently
expects ST. 900 for his present crop
These trees are growing on poor land, and
have had only ordinary attention."
Other papers have taken up this and
tried to show that it was either an exag-
geration, or at least a very exceptional
case, which it would not be wise for any
one to attempt to repeat.
We do not know much of this Shockley
apple, as it does not appear North but
it must have the property of coming into
bearing at an early age to do this IN the
time stated. Few, if any, Northern APP
pies would bear fruit "enough for his
family" in an orchard Of three hundred
trees the third year from planting. Some
kinds, like our Northern Spy, would dc
nothing for ten years. Supposlng, how
ever, tree once to commence to bear,
there would be nothing so very extraor-
binary in the amount said to be raised.
Allowing the trees to be placed twenty
feet apart, it takes three acres to hold the
three hundred trees and supposing that
the grower had fifty cents per bushel for
his apples, he got 1900 bushels from
three acres, or four bushels per tree the
fourth year after commencing to bear, or
5000 per acre. The only difficulty about
this account arises from the youth of the
trees. IF the trees were so much as one
inch thick at planting, and assuming that
they increased one-f fourth of an inch every
year, in seven years they would be but
about three inches in diameter, which
seems rather small stem to have branches
enough to bear four bushels Of fruit.
AS we have said, in tree long time
coming into bearing, with age enough to
make large, strong tree, We think
there would be nothing so very extraordi-
nary in a tree producing as stated, but it
was certainly good thing IN these Shock
eys to do so much in so short time.
What we thought to say under this head
was, that people should receive statements
Of crops and profits which they see in the
papers with great allowance, Many of
these are exaggerated; and when they
are not are simply gueSses, they suppose"
there might > be 50 many bushels, and
the money received was d" calculated at
that rate Still there is no doubt that
an apple orchard, well taken care of, Is
one of the most satisfactory things about a
farm. Sometimes the crop will be a
superior one when others are rare, and
then good prices follow but even when
they are plenty and not worth hauling to
market, they pay well made into cider, or
as food for cattle, to say nothing about the
comfort Of having a good stock of fruit at
all times q about the house.
Fanliu ou Cattle. "A few warm days
IN January will bring the lice to sight, if
they are present A strong solution Of
carbolr soap will check if not destroy
them, The use Of mercurial ointment
{" unguentum y } IS not to be recommend
ed, although more certain in its effects
than any thing else. When applied it
should be used only in small quantities
Say for an OK mass as big as a halle
nut, mixed with a tablespoonful of lard
and rubbed in well upon the neck and
spine. If animals thus treated are expos
ed to cold and storms. they are very apt
to be seriously and sometimes fatally af
fected. Lice and poor feed are hardly
less fatal.
&heep.-Ought to have open yards of
good size or the range of farm lanes or
small pasture lots besides roomy, we'll
Uttered sheds into which they should be
shut AT night. Ewes should have some
grain daily and ha constantly ir,a1,re,,,i,,ey
in condition until weaving time. Fatten-
ing sheep should be kept in close quarters,
and as quiet as possible. See that all get
their just portion of the feed. There is
more danger of over feeding in giving
oorn~meal, than oil cake,
C0ac8 Ia Mdk.-Should have succulent
food as well as oil-meal, bran, or corn
meal, to give quantity as well as richness
to their milk. There is little danger of
mich COW becoming too fat no matter how
much she is fed, and it pays to feed well.
The dribblets Of poor milk which most
farmers get from cows which have nothing
but poor hay, and not half enough of that,
d. not pay for keeping the cows even on
the poor fare they get. Well fed, they
would pay in milk, and besides the calves
would be larger and finer, and the milk
much more abundent when the COWS come
in.
Sj0ils.- Must be kept dry and warm
to do we'll in winter. Brood sows need to
be kept nearly fat enough to kill the
brood will thrive for it. Store pigs need
more feed in proportion than brood sows
even, for they grow rapidly and require
some exercise to keep them healthy They
will eat a good deal of hay-clover hay
if it is fed TO them. We give it when they
begin to be impatient tor feeding time to
come, and find few small locks will keep
them busy and contented.
Hoyses.-Keep all work and road horses
sharp shod, or if there is no ice, keep
them upon strong caulks, which may be
sharpened at short notice. Sharp caulks
wear dull very soon on bare ground, and
become dangerously smooth. Spayins,
splints, besides sprains and bruises, cap
ped hooks and knees, etc, frequently
come from slipping on the ice.
BuiJdjng, etc.-January is very good
time to work in the wood lot, to haul tim
Der to the saw mill, to prepare for building,
to plan and get out frames, etc. The men
who can swing an AK with skill and vigor
are becoming hard to find, at least in the
Eastern States, and it Is well to look out
ahead to secure such labor, and when
engaged, to see that there is no lack of
work.
Ca5res.-Keep young cattle, especially
calves, growing all the time. They should
not be exposed in bleak yards, but in
warm stables, and be fed more or less
meal daily. Their growth and thrift will
be surprising and affect thsir whole lives.
Dry Cows.-Should be we'll fed, and
allowed to get into beef condition Every
pound of flesh and fat laid on extra will
come back in cream.