davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1871-05-10
Sow a Variety OF Grass Seeds.

Very many farmers in laying lands to grass
sow only two kinds of seed, timothy and red
top, when the seed is sOwn with grain in the
spring. Clover seed is usually added the
succeeding spring, though sometimes it is
sOwn with the other seeds.
When the sward Is turned over in the
autumn, clover seed is usually sown with the
grass seeds, a it has time to get established
70 not 10 he thrown out by irosts the sue
eeeding winter. Clover seed is not gener-
ally used with grain crop, as it is supposed
To cover the ground 20 closely as to obstruct
the growth Of the grain
The ques ion To be decided, is, whether or
rot it is best to SOW larger rariety of seeds.
CT continue on in the old routine?
If We examine the turf of an old pasture
that Is well stocked with grasses, one that
affords rich feed, and that holds good through
the summer, we shall find that il contains a
considerable variety Of grasses,-from ten to
fifteen varieties, instead of the two varieties
timothy and red top, which are commonly
us'd Does this indicate that the soil may
contain elements which are favorable to diff.
ttlent nds OF g asses and will produce them
abuDcantly 4 their seeds are s0wn IN it 1t
certainly seems 60. Mr. Secretary Flint. in
biz work on o. asses and Forage Pants, says
. hold this rOposItIOn TO oe indIsputahle :
that any sOl will yield larger and more
nutritious crop If sOwn with several kinds of
nutritious grasses, than when sown with
only one or two species Indeed it is a fact
established ty careful experiment, that a
mix, ure of only two or three species Of grasses
and clover viii produce l,ss amount OF hay
than can 10 obtained by sowing larger
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1871-05-10

\ VERY REMARKABLE RAT-We often
hear stories related of the wonderful cum
ming and knowledge of the rat, but one IS
told-says the OgdensbuIg N. y Jour-
H1I-of a recent occurrence in which a
real old gray rat was the hero, and the
incident whereof took place in that city.
which Is equal to the best \ lady who
has number Of fiue hens. 10 which she
had devoted good deal Of care and atten-
ton during the winter, in hopes to obtain
an early and fair crop Of fresh eggs,
was surprised at the meagre result ac-
tually reached The hens made noise, in
singing and cackling, enough for every
day layers, and Yet only occasionally did
she get an egg
The lady at length determined to watch
operations ard ascertain if possible the
cause Of failure. She saw the hens 90
upon the nest, but if she was not present
when they came off no egg was found
At length constant watching and waiting
solved the mystery. 4 day or two since,
while on the watch, hen came off the
nest and commenced cackling. Almost
instantly an old rat came out Of hole.
and running into a barrel, which was
thrown down upon its side, and in which
the hens nest was, at once nosed the egg
out upon the ground then laid down upon
its back and getting the egg between its
fore paws and nose, commenced squealing,
when two other rats came out and taking
the rat with the egg by the hind legs,
dragged it, egg and all, into the hole.
The lady affirms that she can substan-
tate the foregoing fact by at least three
living witnesses. If any one can tell a
more remarkable rat story than this we
would like to hear it.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1871-05-10

HE GLADIoIUs.-We have cultivated this
beautiful flower for some years with great
satisfaction, and believe it is improving and
growing in favor every year Last year we
planted sixty bulbs. The season was rather
wet. They horished very generally, and the
flowers were very full ard perfect, and gave
us some fine new bulbs. Last spring we
planted one hundred and sixty bHlbe, but on
account of the dryness of the season, the
flowers were not full and perfect, and did
not In all equal those from the previous sixty.
They however formed good bulbs for
hereafter The bulbs Ould be set out in
the spring singly and in clumps, but at diff
ferent lines, 90 as to form succession OF
flowers from s:me time in August, when
they first begin to open, until the frost
comes. When in perfection you cut
hem off and keep them in water in the
house several days. The old bulb dries up
and dies in the ground during the season,
forming on the top, one, two or three new
ones. When the flowers b gin to droOp,
or earlier if we wish to keep them awhile
in the house, we cut off the stalk, and JUST
before frost comes, take up the ncw-formed
bulbs with the leaves on, dry them anl hang
them up in lunches in our celler, where
they have always K pit as well as the potato
Our celler is dry, ;OOl, and well lighted. in
spring they are Drought up, Iue leaves DTO-
ken off, and the new bulbs come out fresh.
dry, and in fine order. They bear pretty
early planting and rich soil, but like most
bulbs, flourish best in a moist soil and moist
season, and little sand is valuable aJdl-
ton to the soil. They generally seem i'm
patient of too much barnyard manure and,
10 best with liquid manure of moderate
strength. Any one who can grow and keep
he potato, can, with about the same care,
grow and keep the gladlolus. If his taste i /
o have great variety of flowers Of all kinds I
# cOlors, he can buy bulbs, true to their
names, at almost any large price he may
hoose to give. But it is best for every one /
o begin with a few Of the well known varie- (
les at a moderate cost and to increase his (
objection by occasionally buying one or more I
f the new and more costly varieties. He I
will soon have rich collection, and can
iscard those that become unsatisfactory.
We have varieties that we have raised year
fter year, true to their color and form, and
hould be very unwilling to part with
hem Cor. Country Gentleman.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1871-05-10

Projection AGAINST THE CAfRE0E-woRH.
The Eur pean cabbage worm, Pieris rGpG
recently introduced by way of Canada, which
has proved 50 Voracious and prolific, has be-
cor1e the terror of northern cabbage growers.
and threatens to traverse the country, unlese
checked by natural or other causes. Where
ever the pest has reached SO far az heard
from, very few if any remedies have availed
to give relief 70 the gardener. The most
noted success is that of p. T. Quinn, the
market garden reporter of the New York
Tribune. He sends to the agricultural de-
partment the following statement: On his
return from California, last summer, he
found his cabbages infested with worms, and
thre Itened with total destruction. lie went
to work with his accustomed energy, expert
mentIng, trying everything new and old
promising radiance of the plague, all to no
purpose, until he hit upon the following 20
parts superpbOsphate made Of BLUSH acid, of
carbolic powder, and Of unslacked lime,
mixed well together and busted thoroughly
into each head four times at intervals OF four
days. The result was the saving of $4,000
cabbages, and loss of but five per cent
The worms would eat fresh lime with i'm
punity, and carbolic powder would destroy
cabbages and worms alike, but the ingredients
in the proportion named, with the unsavory
perfume of the supeIphosphate, either sick
ened or disguised his swarming enemies.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1871-05-10

DRESSING BLACk HcGs.-A correspondent
IF the Michigan Farmer The principal
objection to the Essex and Berkshire breed OF
hogs find to be their color. Now, as Youatt
justly observes, this is not even - skin deep"
he colOring matter will be found TO be Sc
GREETED between the true skin aud the epider-
mis-. or outer skin. If care is taken in scald-
ing black hogs, they can be dressed as white
any white hogs 1t is well known prin-
cipie that all black substances absorb heat
Hence, in dressing black hogs the water
should not be so hot scalding white
ones. If this simple rule is observed, there
will be no difficulty in dressing black hogs.
Instead of this color being an objection,
regard it as an advantage, for the skin OF a
black hog will always be found to be smooth
and glossy, free from cutaneous oruptions,
and always clean.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1871-05-10

MANUREs AND THEIR APPuCA My
experience is that manures containing straw,
hay and the like should lie ploughcd under.
but those containing little or no straw should
be spread on. Coarse manures will rot much
sooner If plOughed under, and they also
serve to Tighten the soil, and this Is the one
great want of those old farms which have
heen cultivated many years. Other manures
should be applied on or near the surface,
hrst, because if applied in any other way
they lose much of their fertilizng properties
by evaporation and by wash, while IT applied
on the surface i'll small quantities each year
the crops receive all or nearly all the benefit.
and second, because the labor OF application
is much less Viewing fine farm burdened
with splendid crop Of grass, remarked t.
friend on its fine appcat ance, that ten YEAR,
before it one OF the poorest farms IN tie
town, and that two things had made it what
1t now is. One was, the present owner had
built a barn, and with it a large, fine cellar
in which he kept his farm manures Until he
be was ready to use them, thereby saving all
the solid and liquids and the other cause
was, he applied the greater part of his ma
nures on his grass top dressing.
| | once had field of grass nearly run out.
and not able to plough it, spread on about
three cords Of manure to the acre for three
years and now ic is as fine field of grass as
one would wish to see
| | have found plaster one of the best fertil-
/ izers for grass land and loan. but not on
sandy so / ; ard should like to hear the ex-
perienc- OF those who have used is on such
land.-W. s. ", an Ne. Farmer.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1871-05-10

10 MEND RUBBER B)oTS.-Lvman Wall
saws in the American Rural - Purchase a
can of rubber cement, which can Oe found in
large cities at rubber stores, also some rub
Der for patches, as new rubber is much better
than old boots or shoes. 70 make the
patches adhere, it is necessary to remove the
cloth from theu. To do this, moisten the
cloth with benzine and remove Immediately.
Cut the patches the proper size 60 cover the
hole 10 the boot. Make the boot around the
hole rough, the size of the patch, with
wood or shoe makers file apply the cement
to the boot and the patch with a case knife,
aud let them lie in a warm, dry room from
thirty to sixty minutes then put the patch on
the boot, and press it down firmly. Be very
particular about the edge Of the patch. Al
ter it has been on a short time examine it
again, to see that it has not started of if it
has, press it down again. Do not use the
boot under forty-eight hours after the patch
is put on. | have patched and tapped rub
Der boots IN this way successfully for two
years; have also patched and tapped Gather
shoes, worn in the house, in the same man
ner Those who cannot find this cement can
write TO the New York Betting Company, 81
and 80 Park Row, New York, who will pre-
haps send it to them. One fifty cent can
will last a family several years. Keep the
cover on the can when not in use, as Is dries
up very quickly. If the cement becomes dry,
cut it with benzine. / gave a man two dol
lars to s1ow me how to do it and | hope it
will do all the Rural readers, who wear rub
Der boots, as much good as it has me.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1871-05-10
THoHAs MEgHAS's METHOD WITH ToNAroEs.

THoHAs MEgHAS's METHOD WITH ToNAToEs.
The agricultural editor of the Philadelphia
Press SAYS he has for several years noted the
relative advantages Of the different ways Of
cultivating tomatoes, and he concludes that
the best practice to adopt is to proceed as
with Lima beans-that is, set the stakes be
fore the plants are put out. These stakes
need not be over six feet high, and may be
set about four feet apart each way As the
plants grow, tie them up 20 the stakes but
that will not be required over half dozen
times during the season Twenty plants in
this way will yield as much fruit as double
the quantity on any other plan, and in quail
ty there is no comparison. The common
ield plan of leaving tomatoes to grow as they
lis, spreading everywhere over the ground,
may be, as truck growers say it is, the way
in which the heaviest weight of fruit can be
mad in proportion to the labor spent; but in
this way the fruit is more acid. Bot what
ever syste n is adopted do not set the plants
until the soil is warm, or they will he stunt
ed and time lost.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1871-05-10
goftru.
Mountains.

Mountains vary ev'ry day,
Misty now. and now so clear.
Sometimes slipping quite away.
Sometimes sliding very near:
Yesterday they pierced the sky
Sharp and strong as prayer of saint,
Now = baby's lullaby
Is not softer or more faint.
Men Of science can explain
All the changes that are seen,
If their memories retain
What may be and what has been.
They may tell of rare and dense,
Quoting laws that govern chance,
But to their amazing sense
prefer my ignorance.
Ignorance that gives to me
Something brighter and more fair
Than the wise professors see
Who have weighed the earth and air-
Something dearer than an art
Or a science yet hath shown,
Something speaking TO the heart.
And not to the head alone.
Mountains are TO me by far
More alive than living men
If they fair and friendly are,
am very happy then;
If they hide behind a cloud.
am not 50 glad or gay;
II they frJwn with gesture proud,
| should like TO run away.
And | fancy they must feel
Ev'ry lovely change they make;
Lights and shades that o er them steal
Are the dcarer for their sake;
While a thought within me springs
Language family shadows thus
Life must be a joy TO things
That csn give such JOY to us.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1871-05-10

THE SPIRAL SYSTEM OF GRAPE TR4INISG.
- Rural gives in late Chicago Tribune
the following brief d, scription of the Spiral
Mode of Training Grape Vines, which he
thinks best for farmers:
Jingle cane of last seasons growth is
trained =pirally around stake, the stake
SIX feet long and driven into the ground one
foot. The cane is tied firmly at the top with
logwood bark mating, or similar material
In pruning. there should have been left at
the bare OF the stem from two 10 six, or in
very strong vines. even more butts, in order
to supply new canes, and to produce leaves
that are 70 perfect the crop, and for cane for
the following years fruiting. In the au
tumn, when we come to the pruning, we cut
away the cane that fIuited the current sea
son, and select one from the new growth for
next year. In doing tLis, We do not ALWAYS
lake the strongest, for the strong growing
anes, that is, those that have sent out lat
erals, or ride shoots, are usually rejectt d. for
IIese are Liable TO have only Leaf Luds near
the base say the FIST half dozen buds NAV
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1871-05-10

hEKN SAGACIoUs-Mr. Snapp, black
smith, owns TWO dogs, one a terrier four or
five years old, the other half shepherd
and half common cur, about twelve or If
teen years old, and consequently very
feeble. la the Winter between the hours
for breakfast aud dinner, and dinner and
supper, these two dogs may always be seen,
perched up just far enough from Mr. Snaps
forge to escape the sparks, but still near
enough to keep warm The terrier being
the more active, almost always gains the
coveted place, leaving the poor old dog
cold The old dog set his wits to work to
devise some means by which he could get
the terrier out Of the coveted place
Taking advantage of the watch dog quail
ties OF the terrier. be made teint towards
the garden, barked iurIousy, as If some
one was intruding al that point, when true
to his nature, out popped the terrier to
make a pell-meii rush for the extreme end
Of the garden. The old schemer no sooner
saw the terrier enter the garden than he
popped behind the stove HIS Young
friend, seeing the situation. ia turn put
his wits 10 work After disappearing in
the garden for few moments he made
MS appearance right In front of the kitch-
en- door with a large bone in his mouth,
and set to work on 1t a. if he was ENJOYING
it hugely, What dog could resist such
tempting sight? At least the old fellow
behind the stove could not, for, sneak ing
cautiously out, be made a sudden dash for
the coveted bone, which he secured very
easily. No sooner had he possessed him
self Of what be soon found to be nothing
bur an old dry bone they both had gnawed
hundred times, than the young rascal
secured the warm retreat behind the stove,
leaving the poor old fellow to contemplate
the old proverb, 1t takes a thief to catch
a thief
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1871-05-10

PorAro FLoUk.-rhe February Agricultu-
raj report says; Few persons in the United
States are aware Of the demand for farina or
potato -four, and of tle almost unlimited ex-
tent OF the market that can be found for Ihs
product, which is the dry, evaporated pulp
Of the ordinary potato, the whittier and more
rec from black specks the better. 1t is used
for sizing and other manufacturing purposes,
and with the aid of precipitation and acid is
50 converted into starch. In Europe it meets
a large and increasing demand, in it's prim-
tive state, as potato flour; and in Lancaster
alone 200 tons are annually sold, and as
many more would be taken If pu: into the
narket When calcined it is used largely
for silk dressing and other purposes
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1871-05-10

TsxAs CATTLE KTNGs.-Tcxas, it is well
known, contains from half to two thirds of
all the horned cattle reported by the census
in the United States The vast herds Of that
State are under control of comparatively few
men, who are called cattle kings, in contrast
to these operators who are known in New
York as railroad kings. A writer in the
Pittsburg Commercial says there are four
million cattle in Texas, one million of which
are beeves ready for market. IL must be
borne in mind, however, that these animals
have to be fed up for some little time before
their flesh is considered fit for Eastern con-
sumption. The plains over which the Texas
cattle roam contain one hundred and fifty
million acres.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1871-05-10

a noted colored man is Hezekiah e. Smith,
well known among Western Michigan horti-
culturists. He is colOred man who left
Canada twenty four years ago, and followed
blacksmithing then bought four acres of
land in the vii 1erness for fifty cents an acre.
lie now owns two hundred and forty acres.
and has thirty acres in fruit trees. He grows
the finest peaches and most luscious grapes
of any one in that region. Should the season
prove favorable, be expects to gather twelve
hundred bushels Of peaches Hpd as many
apples He carries of more premiums Tor
fruit and vegetables than any Of his neigh
hors He and bic wife are members Of the
Baptist church
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1871-05-10

their influence, hidden till it rots. They
are not willing 70. come forth day by day
on an humble mission, doing what little
good they may, but are keeping themselves
hidden till nothe great yesterday OF trl-
tmph, and then they will astonish the
Church and the world but they fnd that
faculties too long hidden ere .tde1tftfes
ruined Better for an egg to have sue
ceeded in making one plain cake for a
poor mans table than to have failed In
making banquet for the House of Lords.
That was glad time when on Faster
morning the egfs went into the saucepan,
and came out striped, and spotted, and,
blue, and yellow, and the entire digestive
capacity OF the children was tested. You
have never had anything so good to eat
since. You found the eggs. You hid
them. They were your contribution to
the table. Since then you have seen eggs
scrambled, eggs poached, eggs in omelet,
eggs boiled, eggs done on one side, and
eggs in nog, but you shall never find
anything like the favor of that Easter
morning in boyhood.
Alas for the boys in town, Easter
cores to them on stills, and they buy
their eggs out of the store. There is no
room for boy to swing round. There is
no good place in town to fly kite, or
trundle hoop, or even shout without PEG
pies throwing up the window to see who
is killed. The holidays are robbed of
half their life because some wiseacre will
persist in telling him who Santa Claus is
while yet he is hanging up his first pair Of
stockings. Here the boy pays half
dollar fer q bottle of perfume as big as
his finger, when out of town, for nothing
but the trouble of breathing it, he may
smell a country full of new-mewn hay
and wild honey-suckle. IL a painted
bath tub ne takes his Saturday bath,
careful lest he hit his head against the
spigot, while in the meadow brook the
boys plunge in wild glee, and pluck up
health and long life from the pebbly bot
tom. O the Joy in the spring day, after
long teasing of mother to let you take off
your shoes, you dash out on the cool grass
barefoot. or down the road, the dust curl
ing about the instep in warm enjoyment,
no shoes to tie or blacken.
Let Us send the boys out into the coun.
try every year for an airing. lftheir
grandfather and grandmother be yet
alive, they will give them a good time.
They will learn in a little while the mys-
teries of the hay NOW, how to drive oxen,
and how to keep Easter They will take
the old people back to the time when you
yourself were boy. There will be, for
the grandson, an extra cake in each oven.
And grandfather and grandmother will sit
and watch the prodigy, and wonder if any
other family ever had such grandchildren.
1t will be a good thing when the evenings
are short, aud the old folks eyesight is
somewhat dim, if you can set up in their
house for little while one or two of these
lights Of childhood For the time the
aches and pains of old age will be gone,
and they will feel as 1.-the and merry as
when sixty years ago they themselves
barrack, and NOW, and wagon
house, hiding eggs for Easter,
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1871-05-10

be leaf buds, whereas the canes that have
made more moderate gru~th, having q sinl
gle shoot without faterafs, have fruit budB
down 10 the bare, and Will, in consequence,
produce better crop. 1t is possible that,
IN very str ing vines, we might fruit two
canes, but have not had experience with
old vines, and will not venture an opinion on
that point; but five or six years old vines are
better to fruit the single cane.
The object Of this spiral trimming is to
check wood growth and 10 increase the
growth of the fruit.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1871-05-10

Car FEATHERS One day Harry's
mamma was very busy, picking chick
en- for dinner, and Harry was much in
terested in the process. The next morn
ing, while his mamma was busily engag-
ed up stairs, Harry was very quiet; so
long, too, that she mistrusted that he
was in mischief; SO she quietly descended
the stairs and found him with the kitten
in his lap, who was vainly struggling to
free herself from his embrace. Harry
was persistently diri7tg into poor kitty's
sides at great rate
What are you doing, Harry ?" asked
mamma.
Why" said be, I'm picking the fed
ders ont"