davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1872-07-31
The Silky Fowl.

The origin of this singular breed Of fowls
is lost in antiquity. They were known and
described by Gesner in the early part of the
sixteenth century. 1t is native of eastern
Asia, being found In China and India The
usual color is white, the skin being dark blue
or black The comb is irregular. rose
shaped, purple or black in color, as is also
the face and wattles ; and the ear lobes are
a bright blue The beak is short and thick
and dark in color. The legs and feet are
dark blue, nearly black. The web of the
feathers does not adhere together, but is
long fine and silky, from which they derive
the name. Another popularity of the breed
is that the periosteum, or membrane which
covers the bones, is dark blue or black
This gives the fowl a very uninviting ap-
pearance when served on the table; but
those who have overcome the repugnance
state that the flesh is as good and well-fa-
vored as that of ordinary fowls.
The peculiar formation of the feathers
renders their wings of no service in flying.
They appear quite bulky, but the average
weight of the cock is not over two and one
half each. In America they are kept merely
as matter of fancy; in England however.
they used to hatch and rear pheasants
and other game birds, as well as bantams
Mr. Hewitt says of them, 81 am certain
that no fowls l ever possessed were SO salts
factory for rearing pheasants, partridges and
other delicate youngsters. Under their pro
lection scarcely lost single chicken The
unusual warmth of their plumage, no
doubt produced this result; and they are
certainly well worth trial to those who are
interested in the production of game arti6-
cially. They were also tolerable layers, and
the eggs were of equal excellence to those of
other fowls. The young chickens are both
interesting, unique and very beautiful
They are certainly variety of poultry that
requires far more protection from hard and
wet weather than most any others. Their
downy covering soon becomes saturated and
if much exposed, disease inevitably eDsues"
With the last the writer differs We once
kept trio of Silkies through the winter
land quite severe one at that), in board
coop three feet square, with thatch-covered
run of the same size. During the winter
we had great deal Of snow; several falls
of foot and over in depth. The fowls were
out and in at pleasure and showed no signs of
sickness or injury from the exposure. We
found them Indifferent layers.
They are well adapted to q lawn or garden,
or small run. as they do not fly, and are
contented to thrive in very contracted limits.
The shortness of their legs, and the woody
covering, gives them the appearance of little
balls of down perambulating over the grass.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1872-07-31

The growth of vegetation, this year, and
more particularly in the case of oats ana
corn, suggests the inquiry whether the ehects
of the drouths of the last two years have
not been to bring to the surface an unusual
amount of plant food. have mentioned IN
this correspondence that during all the win
ter while the ground was bare of snow, and
late into the spring, the whole arabic ana
denuded surface of the country showed
white or frosty looking emulation. On
chemical examination, the oxidation or Ell
horescence proved to be compounded OF sui
phur and lime with trace of nitre. have
stated in this correspondence also, dPr0pOs OF
deep rS., shallow blowing, that facts were
accommodating, going to show that from
causes and influences we do not comprehend
or understand the plant food in the soil dur,
ing dry weather, seasons of drouth, and
while freezing and thawing were going on
had steady, persistent and unusual tenden-
cy toward the surface; and that the tendency
was never downward, except during or i'm
mediately after fall of rain, or in very
damp and foggy weather. The drouths com
mon and universal in tropical countries are
not solely for giving rest to plants, but for
return of the earth's plant food to the sur
face, from which it has been drawn by the
abundant rainfall.-Cor. Country Gentle
man.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1872-07-31

OXEN ON THE FARN-A correspondent of
the Germantown Telegraph gives among
other reasons why oxen should be used on
the farm in place Of horses the following
Many small farmers try to pillow their
land with one horse; a few inches In depth
is all the soil is moved handful of manure
is all that is appropriated where there might
and should be a bushel the selection of
crops made but with little care the cultiva-
ton Of the same is done at a great expense
for want of experimental knowledge and
being prejudiced against tas ing advice OF
successful farmers. On the majority of
farms in my immediate vicinity more than
a third of the expense is worse than wasted.
A pair of oxen will pillow as much in
day and follow it as q pair of horses, and
the cost is but fifty per cent. of horses. The
work is done better than it can be with
horses. A boy of fourteen can handle the
oxen and ploR with more ease and pleas
ure than a man can with his span of horses. ;"
He thinks that the managers of our
agricultural fairs should give the work OK
more attention. lie says that while large
premiums are being paid for the different
breeds of horses, some for drau ght, some for
gentlemen's use, and some for the race
course, and large premiums too for fancy
swine and for overgrown fowls, the OK has
been overlooked. g The OK is capable of
being improved one hundred per cent. Then
a boy with average capability can earn for
his father or employer a much larger sum
than hireling man who watched the hours
instead of his employers interest" Were
large premiums offered for the best trained
oxen, he thinks we should see them used on
the land at least two to one of the horse
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1872-07-31

DISTANCE OF APPLE TREEs.-Every person
who starts an apple orchard should be tamil
lar with the natural forms of growth which
the varieties assume When a variety hav-
ing broad open top is planted, it is desira-
BILE to have tree near it the branches OF
which grow more erect. A committee of the
Cincinnati horticultural Society gives the
following classification
Spreading limbs and round head-Smith S
Cider, Maiden's Blush, Baldwin, ROxbury
Russell, Newton Pippin, TulpehockeD, Wine
sap, Broadwell Sweet, Gravenstein, Jersey
Sweeting, Hubbarston's Nonesuch, Belmont
and VandeYere.
Dropping, pendant form head symmetrical
Yellow Belliower. PennOck, Rhode Island
Greening, Newark Pippin, and Fall Pippin.
Dropping pendant form head loose, or
struggling and open-OrtleY. White Winter
Pearmsin, and Newton Spitzenberg.
OF an upright conical growth-Benoni,
Early Strawberry, Golden Russet, Early
Sweet Bough, Lady Apple, Pryor's Red,
Northern Spy, and TOlman' s Sweeting.
| Upright growth, but with round bead
Red Astracban, White Pippin, Alexander,
Kaighn's Spitzenberg, Michael Henry Pip
pin, Drap Dor, Bohannan, Belmont
Rawle's Janet, Fall Wine, Rambo, Rome
Beauty, Summer Rose, High Top Sweet
Myers Noppareil, Fall Pippin, and Porter
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1872-07-31

HARVESTING GRAIN.-Binding is one of the
difficult things to describe, and quick ness
can only be acquired by practice. Grain is
usually bound in the West with what is
termed a splice or double band. A suitable
quantity of long straw is taken in the left
hand, below the heads, while the right sep
arates it into two parts. With the fore
finger kept straight to lift up the loose part,
it is brought round under it, and over the
heads, the other hand turning in toward the
body, to admit of this turning and locking
operation. The thumb and forefnger of the
hand holds the lock portion in its place
while it is put around the sheaf.
In tying the sheaf, the hands should not
be brought too near the ends of the band,
but press down with the right hand and up
with the other, until the hands meet. Turn
the portion held in the right hand once
around the other, and giving the whole a
twist, tuck the loop so formed under the
hand, the tuck pointing toward the heads OF
the grain, so that if picked up by the head
it may not come loose. If the reaper casts
the gravel out of it's own track, few rows
may be cut in advance, which will save you
much travel, by enabling you to take two or
three swaths at a time, and also enable you
er. Good-sized sheaves save labor in bind
ing. The band should be about about one
third of the sheaf from the butt. Facility
s only TO be gained in this work by practice.
Grain should be allowed to stand in the
shock long enough to get dry, which will
vary from one to two weeks.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1872-07-31

DEEP OR SHALLOW "A correspondent of
the Rural NetC Yorker. seeing statement IN
that paper which seemed to give the prefer
ence to shallow setting for the purpose of
getting the cream from milk, writes to give
experiments made with pans and cans as fol-
lows:
This trial was Tade within the first ten
DAYS of August, and destined to be a thorough
test of the manner of setting milk. The
mornings milk was used each time, the milk
being divided into nearly equal parts. First
experiment, 1861 pounds in the deep can,
III inches, and l41t pounds in the pan 81
inches deep. The water was taken from the
same tank to keep the temperature Of the
milk standing at about fifty eight degrees, 1t
souring in the pans at forty hours, not
changing in the can till forty-eight hours.
The cream was churned as soon as taken from
the milk, the can producing six pounds OF
butter before sailing, or pound OF butter
from % pounds 10 ounces Of milk; and the
can pounds 10 ounces, or pound Of but
ter from % pounds ounces of milk.
The next experiment gave precisely the
same result In the third experiment, the
pan had two pounds more milk than the can
and gave precisely the same amount OF but
ter.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1872-07-31

Summer suits are nearly all made OF buff
or white linen, pique, cambria, or muslin,
and the art of preserving the new appearance
after washing is a matter of the greatest i'm
portance. Common washer women spoil
everything with soda, and nothing is more
frequent than to see the delicate tints of
lawns and percales turned into dark blotches
and muddy streaks by the ignorance and
vandalism of a laundress. In the first place
the water should be tepid, the soap should
not be allowed to touch the fabric it
should be washed and rinsed quick, turned
upon the wrong side, and hung in the shade
to dry, and when starched lin thin boiled
but not boiling starch) should be folded in
sheets or towels, and ironed upon the wrong
side as soon as possible. But linen should
be washed in water in which hay or quart
bag of bran has been boiled. This last will
be found to answer for starch as WE'LL and is
excellent for print dresses of all kinds, but
handful of salt is very useful also to set
colors of light cambrics and dotted lawns ::
and little OK gall will not only set but
brighten yellow and purple tints, and has a
good effect on green.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1872-07-31

How EASILY BUTTER IS SPoILED.-A far
mer's wife writes to an exchange - Of all
the products Of the farm, butter is most
liable to be tainted by noxious odors floating
n the atmosphere Our people laid some
veal in the cellar, from which little blood
flowed out and was neglected until it had
commenced to smell. The result was that q
lar of butter which | was then packing
smelled and tasted like spoiled beer An
other lady reader observes that there was
pond of filthy, stagnant water few hundre
feet from the house, from which, when the
wind was in a certain direction, an offensive
efiuvium would be borne on the breeze
directly to the milk-room, the result Of which
was that the cream and butter would taste
like the disagreeable odor coming from the
pond. AS soon as the pond was .drained
there was no more damaged butter.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1872-07-31

KEEPING DAHLIA BULBs.-W hen the plants
have been backened by the frost in the fall,
cut them off at the ground and throw a
shovelful of earth over the crowns, as for
sweet potatoes. They will now thoroughly
mature, and may be left where they are until
really frosty nights approach. Then lift the
roots upon some dry hay, and lay them in
an airy room to dry When thoroughly dry,
pack in dry sand, and place in dry cellar,
or other dry situation, free from frost, first
labelling each plant so that the marks may
not be obliterated during the winter.
We have never had any difficulty in keep
ing them perfectly, in this way. 1t you
have greenhouse they may be kept under
the staging, where it is dry; moisture Is the
one thing most fatal to them, next to frost
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1872-07-31
gnttru.


To-day is come. See grandly up
The red light breaks in eastern skies,
To-day is ours-to-morrow, still,
A pearl within Gods keeping lies.
Not by the dozen or the score
God gives days, but one by one,
That our weak souls may never have
More work than may be justly done.
One after one, to us He gives
His days, like jewels in the rough,
That we may bring their beauty out,
And make them shiue. 1t il enough
For any life. And yet alas
How seldom do we ever see
The duty lying meath our hands
That pleads with US all silently.
a few are workers. They in faith
Receive the time as it is given,
And IN their patient, loving hands
Each day becomes a step toward heaven
Their tears are shed to cleanse the dross,
Their hearts desires are cast afar,
They bring the gem in beauty forth,
And make it sparkle like star.
All could we feel the weight OF nole,
we should not wal; with longing eyes,
And hope TO do some noble work
on morrows that may never rise
Then help Us, Lord, to know the way,
To bear the toll, TO meet the strife
30 thread each day a fawless gem
Upon the silver chord OF life.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1872-07-31

ing of these stories, and longing for just
one glimpse of the long fair hair, or some
faint echo, though never so distant, of the
siren song. And a few months later l
rcaS gratifed l heard the song, which |
was just as wild and sweet, and soul
stirring, as a romance loving little girl
could desire and Sase the face and form
too but must confess they were not SO
beautiful as l had hoped. But will tell
you how it all came about, and see then if
you don't believe in Mermaids.
was passenger on board a Bombay
vessel, cruising about among the Malayan
Islands; and the weather being warm,
and my friends spent most of the time on
deck. One evening about nine o'clock, as
we sat mcrrily chatting together on the
ships poop, we suddenly heard wild, sweet
music, that seemed to rise from the sea,
/ soft trill, as of a single voice, then full
chorus of voices burst upon our enraptured
ears, till the very deck beneath our feet
seemed to vibrate and tremble under the
influence of its thrilling sweetness. But
still we saw nothing, though every eye was
peering wistfully out over the waste OF
waters: and at last we came to the
conclusion that it was a trick played on US
by our fun-loving captain, perhaps by the
aid of ventriloquism. He, however, stoutly
denied any agency in the matter, and told
US, gravely, 4" to keep close look out on
the lee bow If 1re lcanted to see Mer-
maid. The motion we felt, he assured US
was the Mermaids' dance, and their efforts
to drag down the ship After he had
enioyed the Joke to his hearts content, he
explained to US that both music and motion
were caused by-Singing fish. These, by
coming in great numbers, and clinging to
the bottom Of the ship, had caused the
electric vibrations we felt, as well as the
sweet music that had so delighted our ears.
In proof of his assertion, he produced sew
eral bona fide specimens of the fish, taken
bv one Of the sailors with net Alas
for all the fairy pictures we had been 50
ENORMOUSLY weaving-Our much lauded
songsters were only little brown fish, about
six inches long, oval-shaped, awkward
looking, and ugly-quite unfit even to be
eaten-apparently Of no use ia the world
but to sing
Upon the wonderful performances of
these little fish, | have not the slightest
doubt, have been based all our pretty
fables of the Mermaid, her beauty, songs
and destinations | afterwards repeated J
heard their serenades, and always Wi tn
increasing delight, and | still have in my
cabinet of oriental curiosities, several we'll
preserved specimens of these Singing Fish.
j -IFhat Nert?
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1872-07-31

COOP BREAD.-To commence with, good
yeast and -four are, of course, essential. Ii
you use dry yeast cakes, have them thorough
ly soaked in tepid water. At night boil
half dozen potatoes, put them through a
collander, with the water in which they are
boiled. Pour in cold water until the potato
water is lukewarm, add the yeast, cover, and
put in a warm place over night. You OBJ
serve that no -four is put in at night. This
is the popularity of this recipe. In the
morning, heat the potato water, stirring
constantly, AMI being careful not to scald it..
Stir in -four until it is a thick batter, and
let it rise. When sufficiently light knead in
all the -four you can. 1t is at the stage that
kneading is most effective go knead it just
one hour. Don't say you haven't the time to
spare; you had better, on that baking day,
make only three kinds of cake, instead OF
the usual six, or even omit the inevitable
pies altogether, rather than have the a" staff
of life - anything short of perfect. After it
has again risen, mould into loaves, and when
light, bake. The result will be bread that
is white, with the pure wheaton taste, that
can be pressed into one half its bulk, and
will Immediately expand to its original size,
and when broken apart can be peeled of IN
fakes or layers. This is one of the results
of long kneading, and is proof that the bread
has " attained unto perfection"
1t is surprising how few people know
what really good bread is. So long as their
bread is not positively sour or heavy, they
eat it, blissfully ignorant that it can be
made better.
A few days since a young housekesper
showed me, with evident pride, a loaf Of bread
of her making, saying that the ability to make
good bread was one of her accomplishments,
of which she was justly proud. Said bread
was hard, dark and coarse-grained. Mr..
RURAL what could say? To the class of
housekeepers which she represents, who con-
slider their method of doing anything right,
simply because it is their way, it is useless
to try to teach them anything but to those
who are trying to learn, the above recipe
may contain some useful suggestions. al
Nep Yorker.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1872-07-31

Corn FoDDKR.-Mr Alexander Reed OF
Lock Haven, Clinton Co., Penn, reports
that his practice is to cut up his corn as late
as he can and avoid frost. After huskIng,
the stalks are bound and carefully shocked
till cured, then slowed in the barn. They
are prepared for feed as follows
Each morning and evening the quntity
needed is cut with a power cutter, put IN a
tight box with mixture of meal and bran
sprinkled in boiling water Is then poured
on, and the box closed with tight lid, so as
to shut in both heat and steam. That steamed
at night is warm when fed in the morning
and that in the morning when fed in the
afternoon Mr. Reed states that, prepared
in this way the cows eat all the butts, and
a ton will produce more and as much better
milk than ton of hay prepared in the same
way.-DepartDasnt OF Agriculture, Monthly
Report.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1872-07-31

Projection FROM THE Sun. Our expert
ence gathered in the hay and harvest field
has taught US that the protection of the back
of the head and neck from the sun 5 rays Is
imperatively necessary. A white pocket
handkerchief fastened to the back part of the
inside of the hat and allowed to hang and
cover the neck, will conduce much to the
wearer' g comfort. The handkerchief loosely
hanging is stirred with every breeze, and
causes a continual current of air around the
back Of the head, which will tend to reliev :
or prevent many tiresome headache that
would otherwise interfere with the labors of
the day or the nights rest.-Hedrth and
Home.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1872-07-31
gnetrg.
Resting i'm God.

Since thy Fathers arm sustalns thee,
Peaceful be;
When a Christening hand restraints thee
1t is He.
Know His love in full completeness,
Fills the measure of thy weakness;
If He wound thy spirit sore,
Trust Him more.
Without murmur. accomplishing,
In His hand,
Lay whatever things thou canst not
Understand.
Though the world thy folly spuneth.
From thy faith in pity turneth,
Peace thy inmost soul shall I'LL,
Lying still.
Like an infant, if thou thinkest
Thou canst stand,
Childlike proudly pushing back
The offered hand,
Courage soon is changed to fear,
strength doth feeblencss appear;
In His love if thou abide,
He will guide.
Fearest sometimes that thy Father,
Hath forgot?
When the clouds around thee gather,
Doubt him not.
Always hath the daylight broken,
Always hath He comfort spoken;
Better hath He been for years,
Than thy fears.
Therefore, whatsoever betideth,
Night or day.
Know His love for thee provideth
Good Away
Crown of sorrow gladly take,
Grateful wear it for His sake;
Sweetly bending to His Will,
Lying still.
To His own thy Saviour giveth
Daily strength.
To each troubled soul that liveth,
Peace at length.
Weakest lambs have largest share
OF the tender Shepherds care;
Ask Him not the When or " How,
ONLY bow.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1872-07-31

Comparatively few people know the
value Of chloride of lime. 1t is only ex-
ceIIed by carbolic acid in preventing decomPo-
sition Of animal and vegetable matter, and
in removing impure doors. 1t is a good
protection against all malarious diseases, and
a small quantity should be kept in a room
in an open dish through the warm
weather, when such diseases are
most prevalent. Cellars where vegetables
are kept should always be supplied with it..
1t also drives away vermin. Some caution Is
needed in it's use as it rusts steel and destroys
gilt articles if placed near them.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1872-07-31

WEARING FLANNELs.-It has been deter
mined that the average temperature of the
healthy human body in temperate climates is
several degrees, and one degree higher in the
tropical climates. Clothing of light color
should be used In the summer to keep down
the temperature of the body, and free per-
SEPARATION must also be secured to the same
end. Hence the advantage of thin hannels,
frequently changed, in hot weather.