Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1873-11-08
farm, Garden and Household.
Farm Notes.

A Kentucky farmer keeps tame
snake in his corn crib, and he finds him
cheaper than mice.
In putting mp stoves, make a thor
ough examination. More houses are
burned from defective fiues than from
all other causes combined, probably ten
to one.
Some of the farmers in Eastern Penn
sylvania have formed a company, with
a capital of 1900, for the manufac-
ture of fertilizers, and especially for
grinding bone, that genuine articles
may be had.
The grand cayalcade at Guilford,
Conn, was formed of 141 yoke of cattle,
one seven-horse team, two six-horse
teams and 10 two-horse teams. Two
decorated carts, one drawn by 81 oxen
and the other by 70, attracted special
attention.
A foreign scientific journal suggests
method of picking meat with rapidity
and success. The meat is to be rolled
in a mixture of 16 OF. of salt, OF.
saltpeter, and OF. of sugar, so that all
parts are completely sailed. 1t is then
wrapped in piece of cotton cloth pre-
viously scalded and dried, and placed
in porcelain vessel.
Several wide-awake gardeners have
recorded an experience to the effect that
by preparing the soil and sowing peas
in antumn-but so late as to preclude
the possibility of sprouting before the
ground freezes-they secure a crop in
Spring considerably earlier than by
adopting the usual course. The plan
seems worth trying.
A good many years ago a wealthy
farmer owning several hundred acres OF
land remarked to a neighbor that he
wished he could hire one or two acres
for buckwheat patch. That incident
shows the regard in which this crop
has been held by the best farmers. The
good mans soul yearned for buckwheat
cakes, but he could not make himself
willing to use his own well-tilled and
productive acres on which to grow the
raw material. Ii he did he could not
we'll SOW spring grain the following sea.
son, and unless he sowed buckwheai
without interruption he must some time
lose crop before the patch could be
again seeded. Buckwheat is popularity
considered the poor mans crop. 1t is
almost always got in on the Least
productive land, often only half pre-
pared, and at the last may be cut off en-
tirely by an untimely frost. And yet
there are few crops which will better
pay for careful preparation of the soil.
vU4,,o HVoI,xurr
Grape culture and the manufacture
of domestic wines being on the increase
in this country, we publish the follow
ing directions for making five gallons
of grape wine by a correspondent of the
Germantown Telegraph: Express the
juice from twenty pounds of grapes
rinse the pulp and skins in as mucl
water as will cover them; mash then
and strain themsthrough coarse cloth
add to this the juice and put in two
pounds of brown sugar to each gallon
When the sugar is dissolved pour the
whole into a key, having the bune
open, and let it stand where the tenn
perature will be about seventy degrees
until fermentation ceases then buna
up tight and let it rest for month tc
settle, when it should be drawn of
quietly, the key well washed, and the
wins returned to it, adding one pound
of good raisins, and if it does not seen
sweet enough two pounds of sugar may
be added to the whole. The necessity
of doing this depends on the kind anc
quality of the grapes. The wine should
remain undisturbed until the key il
wanted the next season, when it may bt
bottled for use.
Planting Orchards.
If it is designed to plant out an or
chard this fall, preparations for it should
begin as soon as possible. The lanG
should be well and deeply ploughed
and, if possible, subsoiled. If neces
sity imposes the choosing of location
which is not favorable one, from the
character of the soil as regards fertility
some pains should be taken to improve
it. To do this well, rotted compost Of
bone dust may be used, or all or either
of these, with such additional supplies
of ashes as may be procurable. Pillow
under, and mingle as well with the tor
soil as possible. Do not use fresI
green manure. If you have no other
it will be preferable to plant your trees
and use the manure as top dressing
afterwards. Decide upon the varieties
and the proportions you intend plant
ing, send your orders in time to thu
nursery, and do not depend upon any
chance tree-peddler to take your order
These are not the proper persons to bu,
from, much less to make selections O.
kinds for you, even if they send yor
what they profess.
How to Cure Hams.
The hams of Maryland and Virginia
have long enjoyed a high reputation
Premiums for these hams were awarded
by late meeting of the Maryland
Agricultural Society. Those who hat
opportunities of examining the hams
report that they were of excellent quail
ty. The following is the receipt after
which those were packed down which
received the first premium. For one
hundred pounds of pork take eight
pounds of pulverized alum, two ounces
of saltpetre, two pounds of brown sugar
one and half ounces of potash, anC
four gallons of water. Mix the above
ingredients and pour them upon the
meat, after it has lain about two days
in the tub. Let the hams lie about siy
weeks in pickle, and let thom dry off {
few days before smoking them.
generally rub the meat with fine sal
when pack it down. The meat should
be quite cold before it is packed in the
tubs.
Corn-FOdder.