Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1873-02-21

ciety, was, on motion called to the chair
The chair introduced to the audience
Hon, Hiram Carlton,
of Waits6eld, who welcomed the Board, and
the audience, with few neat aud appropriate
remarks.
Hon. Henry Lane,
of Cornwall, then read paper upon Root
Culture for Stock Feeding. This paper will
appear in full in the columns of the FARMER.
Mr.. Wilder, Of Charlotte, inquired of Mr..
Lane, how often he fed beets.
Mr.. Lane usually feed but once, in the
middle of the day. To sheep, after ambing,
frequently feed roots twice day.
Mr.. Wilder said he had had very satisfac-
tory results 10 raising and feeding sugar beets
to dairy cows.
MIR. Wheelock, of Barre, inquired what
kind of phosphate Mr.. Lane used.
Mr. Lane The Cumberland. Mr.. Lane,
in reply to another question, advised feeding
roots not only for cows but for fattng stock.
As regards soil, thought beets did best on
clay soil. His experience in transplanting
beets led him to think people make mistake
in transplanting when too small Should not
be small, like turnip plants, but from IA to
in. in diameter. Clips the leaves in trans
planting, and transpauts in moist weather.
Also trims the tap root, SO that it will not
double up 10 setting.
Mr.. Wilder spoke favorably of the beet
crop as free from attacks Of insects.
Mr.. z. K. Jameson, of lrasburgh, said it
was believed in his neighborhood that when
meal and potatoes are fed together, stock is
sometimes injured by their fermentation.
Asked if the same trouble arose with beets
it safest to feed meal with roots, rather than
alone. If potatoes are not cut the meal does
not adhere to them aud it might as well be
fed alone. Would not transplant beets except
to fill vacancies. For transplanting plants
the beet seed should be sown early.
Mr. Wheeock, of Barre, mixes his meal
for feeding with cut hay or straw, and feeds
his roots alone.
Mr.. Jameson spoke Of feeding roots in
large quantities of from two to six bushels a
day to each animal, and said those who did
it thought roots were good for nothing or in
furious. Half bushel a day to a COW or
steer is enough.
Mr.. Lane would not hesitate to feed u
bushel day, in two feeds, with meal, to fat
tening stock or COWS in milk.
e. a. FIske, Esq,
of Waits6eld, then read an essay on Maple
Sugar" Vermont raises 80 lbs. of maple
sugar to each inhabitant. The only state
that makes more maple sugar New York.
makes only 2 1-2 lbs. to each inhabitan t
The value of our sugar product is equal to
that of our wheat, and one iHth of our dairy
yield. All the books, even Appletons Cy-
clopeda, that speak of sugar making, refer
to the old-fashioned way, with the caldron
kettle. Nobody out of Vermont seems to
know much about it, Some do not know in
what season sugar is made, and some will
ask how much sugar we can make from a
cord of maple wood. Prejudice against col
or is justiGable in the matter of sugar. The
most important point is keeping all utensils
clean. Tin pals are preferable but wooden
tubs will answer as well if properly cared for
and scalded both before and after using.
Sap is sometimes affected inju riously by sub
stances on or in the SOIL but these cases are
rare. A bit g. To 5.8 in. is large enough
for tapping smaller bits have been used
successfully. One hole to tree is enough.
Posts spout Is the best next, tin spouts.
Holes should not be made at the same height
year after year. 1t seriously weakens the
tree. A pump for transferring sap from the
gathering tub to the reservoir is labor saw
ing thing where needed. Likes the evapora.
tor, because it saves work, also the Monitor
sap regulator. Nitre is held in solution
till the syrup will weigh 8 lbs. to the gallon.
Must be concentrated to that point before
settling. Strain after settling. If syrup is
pure no cleansing substances need be used,
yet little white of egg and milk help in
getting off the scum. If the maple buds
mature and the leaves ripen and fall before
frost, the next season will be good one for
sugar, aud rice cersa; this is an Indian OBJ
servation, believed by some to be correct.
Mr., A. Il. Edredge, of Warren, thought
transplanted trees not good for sugar. they
did not run we'll.
Mr.. Wheelock, of Barre, said he had no.
ticed no difference in the flow or sweetness
from such trees.
Mr.. Lanes experience agreed with Mr..
Eldredges. Another gentleman had seen
large quantity Of sugar made from transplant
ed trees
Mr.. Jameson thought transplanted trees
were sometimes tapped too low for good re-
suits. If tapped above the reach of children
aud passers, better result in sap and sugar
would be realized Mr.. j. spoke favorably
of cement cistern as a sap reservoir.
Mr. Bisboe, of NJ oretown, objected to stOr-
iug sap in cisterns. 1t should be boiled at
once this is the only way to make good SUI
gar.
Mr.. Jameson said as long as reservoirs are
required it was only question which was
best, one above or below ground.
10 reply to questions, Prof. Collier said
that the water of the maple sap comes from
the ground being imbibed by the roots. A
considerable ouantitv of starch is stored up