National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1874-02-27
Farm, Garden aud Household.
How I Raised Horses,

upon my farm for the purpose Of
raising colts, I discovered that II was
moro profitable to let my neighbors
keep tho mares while I raised the colts.
I found that, on the whole, the money
and time expended, the risk run, and
the attention needed, before the colt
was able to look after itself, was the
greater part of the cost OF the colt until
il became horse. l therefore changed
my plan. disposed Of my mares and
kept geldings for my farm work, thus
getting rid OF vast deal OF trouble.
Then when my neighbors needed 800 or
30 at any time, which they very often
did, they could always sell me q year
ling colt, or at least q weaned one. 1t
was not long before my reputation as
buyer of colts became spread, and !
soon had my pick OF the colts within a
dozen miles around. I made shed
with loose boxes 16 feet square, in each
OF which I could keep pair OF colts.
I feed them during the winter upon cut
feed and few oats, just as my horses
were fed, the feed being either cut sheaf.
oats or cut corn stalks, and meal and
bran, with occasionally hay and linseed
meal. I curried them daily, and gave
them Just as much attention as grown
horse should have, and many poor
pot-bellied, neglected creature, which l
have picked up for song lest it might
die, 1 have brought round into thrifty,
Aourishing young horse. When pair
matched pretty closely I put them to-
gether, and by training them during
leisure times carly, they were broken
to light work without much trouble.
What they ate was really so little that I
never kept any account of it, but
probably three pair Of colts cost no
more to keep than one pair of horses.
In summer their keep was pasture with
a quart Of oats or meal per day only.
but they were always brought into their
stable at night and fed green cut fodder
with the other horses. l kept few of
them over the second winter, having
more demand for them than cared to
supply unless got my own price for
them. l have sold a pair of very
nearly matched two-year Odds, broken,
or rather trained to drive double or
single, for $500, which cost me year
and half previously $75 for one and
but $25 for the other. Their whole
keep could not have cost me over $50
up to the day I sold them. I give you
the figures from my ledger of the cost
and produce of few of these colts ia
ken at random tho whole list would
be too long, as had upon the average
from eight to ten colts at time:
One yearling, cost $55, sold at 2 years
old for 1925. One weanling, cost $40,
sold ct "a years old for $3.50. One
yearling, cost $50, sold at II years old
for $3.50. One yearling. cost $40, sold
at years old for $175. Two weanlipgs,
cost $65, sold at II years old for $3.50.
The last two colts, as the one above
mentioned, costing 1875, were purchased
from a man who used to keep his stock
in very poor condition, and boosted af-
have couple of dead colts. The next
year, however, they were sold to make
room for others at a very profitable
price. I think have given hint to
some of my brother farmers how, by
keeping their eyes open, they may turn
an honest penny and accommodate their
poorer neighbors at the same time
keystone.
Planting Strawberries.
A correspondent of the Cottage Gar
dener has tried the following method
with great success:
IL did not cut any runners off the old
beds, but allowed them to run in a
ma g. In the autumn I lined strips
about nine inches wide and two feet
apart through it's length, and cut them
in squares of nine inches. These took
up with q spade at three inches deep.
In the bed prepared for them I had
trenches dug two feet apart, and placed
the squares of strawberry roots in them,
at distance of eighteen inches from
each other. The roots were not injured
in the least, and the crop was excellent
I had the trenches that were made in
the old bed filed with one part of we'll
rotted manure and two parts of stiff
loan, and the bed was soon covered
with plants. Thus, by degrees, you can
renew the old bed as we'll as form new
ones. Certainly, with the old plan of
planting single roots, we obtained finer
specimens OF fruit but, unless fruit for
show is required, 1 advise every one to
try the above plan for quantity, and
they will not be disappointed.
Smut i'm Wheat.
Theorists differ in relation to what is
generally known as smut in wheat.
Jethro Tull states that the difficulty was
common in England, till some OF the
wheat taken from sunken vessel was
sown. This produced wheat free from
smut, and from that time forward the
practice of soaking wheat in ocean
brine, or water made artificially salt,
became general. Land that contains
salt Is not liable to produce smutty
wheat. Applyinglime and salt directly
to the soil seems to operate to prevent
rust, but it is better to treat the grain
than the soil. Sulphate of copper,
commonly known as blue vitriol, or
blue stone, is now generally used, in
stead of salt, to prevent smut. An
ounce and quarter of this salt, dig
solved in as much water as will cover
the wheat, is regarded by many persons
as sufficient quantity for bushel.
The wheat may remain in it an hour.
For convenience in sowing, many after
wards sprinkle the grain with dry lime.
Ducks as Egg Producers.
The number of eggs laid by duck
depends very much on the breed to
which she belongs. In all poultry the
non-sitters lay more than those that
are concerned in the rising generation.
Thus the Aylesbury will lay greater
number of eggs than any other duck.
The black duck, called the Labrador,
the East Indian or Buenos Ayres is a |
good layer. The Rouen is an average |
layer, and the wild duck lays few COM
pared to these. An old duck is as a
rule better than a young one, but it is