davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1874-05-01
ALFALFA.

This plant, which some writers have as
serted to be native of Mexico, is without
doubt an Importation from the old world.
10 Spain it has been grown for centuries
under the name we give it, while in England
and France it is known as Lucerne. One of
its chief recommendations is its ability to
Withstand severe drouth.
In Europe it is used principally for soil
ing, or feeding green. and is not often used
as hay, being considered too coarse. 1t
takes three years from seeding to bring AL
falfa to maturity, and it yields little or moth :
ing the first and second years, which is a
leading objection to its culture.
1t needs to be sown in hills or rows and
demands clean culture to keep it from being
choked out by weeds and grasses and it will
thrive only on deep, dry, rich soil. Its roots
are much like the clover, growing downward
four or five feet thus enabling it to withstand
the drouth.
In wet subsoil it will not grow at all
When once established in the proper soil it
yields enormous quantities of green fodder
which may be cut once in two months DUR
lug the summer for twelve years.
1t is said that an English farmer, who
sowed in the summer of 1888 eight acres OF
Alfalfa, commenced cutting it in May, 1S41,
and for six weeks it furnished the entire feed
Of thirty horses. The second cutting sup
piled twenty horses for six weeks from the
first of July, the third cutting thirteen horses
fourteen days from the middle of September,
and after this flock of sheep fed upon it
all winter.-Mirror and Farmer.
Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1874-05-01
RECIPES.

Orange Jeiiy-Dissolve one-hali box of
gelatine in cup of cold water for ten min
utes, add two cups of boiling water, enc cup
lemons. Strain through fine sieve and
put into n cold place to harden.
Jelly Roils.-TwO eggs, One-half cup of
sugar, two tablespoOniuls of cream tartar,
one of soda, one cup of -four just cover
the bottom of the bake sheet with the mix
and spread with jelly, and roll while warm.
Sliced Bread PtdCling.-Cut some slices Of
light cold bread, and butter them, then
spread preserves Of any kind over them,
and repeat until you fill your pan or mold.
Beat four eggs, pour over the bread in the
pan one pint of boiling milk, then the eggs
place the mold in boiling water, cover it
with cloth, and let it boil twenty minutes.
Serve with u nice sauce.
Simple Corn Meal Pudiing.-Stir into II
three heaping spoonluls of meal and half
cup of sugar, well beaten together. Cook
five minutes, stirring constantly; remove
from the fire. and add the whites beaten to
a stiff iroth, Pour into pudding dish, and
bake one hour in moderate oven. Serve
with cream and sugar.
TO Prepare Beef for Drying. Two quarts
Of salt enc tablespoonful of salt peter; enc
half pound Of brown sugar; mixed dry
cut the ham into two pieces; rub the mix
turc over them; they make their own brine;
turn ever every day for ten days they are
then ready TO dry
Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1874-05-01
Pen-SpGfGers.

Two heads are better than one--sspScially
in barrel.
Hood called the slamming of II door by \
person in a passion ~ wooden oath"
What IS the difference between Dutch
man in New York and one in Brooklyn?
About II mile.
Tom, which of tho apostles wore the
largest hat? Give it up, Jim. Why, the
one with the largest head.
Use what talent you possess. The woods
wSuld be very silent il no birds sang there
but those who sang best.
How were Adam and Eve got out Of the
garden of EdenP They were snaEed out.
What did they do thenp They raised Cain.
And did you hear him call her my dear,
or anything like thatPn asked the lawyer
'No, sirl of course not; why, she was his
wife," answered the lady witness
A little Troy boy, who WAS worrying over
a piece OF shad at dinner, demoralized his
mother by asking, Mamma, where did God
find all the bones TO make the first shad OFF"
One may live RS II conqueror, or king,
or n magistrate, but he must die man.
The bed of death brings every human being
TO his pure individuality, to the intense con-
tsmplation OF that deepest and most solemn
Of all relations, ths relation between the
creature and his Creator.
Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1874-05-01

thereby causing continual and unnatural
strain Of the parts in question, which con-
slant strain we believe to be well calculated
to prematurely bring on this abOrting habit,
and, when one aborts 1t is liable to become
so through the whole dairy and perhaps
neighborhood, by way Of receiving IL
through one or more Of the senses, either by
seeing, hearing, or smelling any remains Of
one that has aborted, like turning COW into
stable, yard or pasture where one has
aborted, providing all signs remaining are
not removed and the smell thereof destroyed
by way Of washing Of the external parts Of
the COW that has aborted and whitewashing
her stall and covering the ground or spot
where remains are found with fresh dirt
or other deodorizing substance.
There are several causes which will pro.
duce abortion yes scores of causes An in-
human kick or blow inflicted on the abdo-
men will cause it fright. falling upon ice,
Sudden change Of feed from dry TO an
excessive green one will 90 relax the system
as to invite il. under slight propagation.
The trouble is taken on more readily by
such ~ are NEST easily shocked or frighten-
" anu hieeANteA y tnSAseaJ ptVVus1111H " WhVlc
dairies through the carelessDess Of AD attend
ant in the first instance. Verify the same
laws which govern and affect the human
family will in like manner apply to the low
er animals. All things are governed BY
cause and effect.
In conclusion, the cause of cows sbortipg
is the result Of some mismanagement some
where. See that your cows stand on floors
that drop but a fraction of an inch, just
enough to cary off the urine. Tie them Sc
curely with cattle ties about the neck or,
what may be better in winter, rope ties,
leather straps, or rope about the horns, aud,
above all, avoid the inhumsn mode Of con-
ining the head between two upright pieces
Of plank called sliding stanchions This in
human mode of confinement should have dis
appeared with the days OF the inquisitiou.
Never strike, kick, or speak sharply to
them whereby their nervous system may be
excited and the trouble invited.-Geo
Baehelder, an Massachusetts PlOughman.
Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1874-05-01

wisp of straw, and then follow with the
brush. Horses should not be pushed too hard
at the start, but given moderate work the
first two or three weeks when they will get
toughened to the season, and then il they
are in fine condition they can be pushed hard
for few weeks, providing the feed and care
are all right.
New Milch Cows
now need careful attention. They should
be we'll fed aud not allowed to grow poor.
Keep up the condition now If full pals of
milk are wanted in the season Of full flow.
The cattle cards should not be lying around
with the handles of, but should be in order,
and gently drawn over each animal daily.
Do not let the butcher get the best calves
because they will bring few dollars more,
but let him have the inferior ones after they
are we'll fatted.
Breeding Ewes
need good shelter, with good clean bed and
ventilation, and good rations Of nutritious
l6Sedsus there are nov two or more bodies to
support Sheep that are now carrying lambs
need plenty Of good, sweet hay, with few
roots, or ground oats aud bran. Lambs need
looking after this month, as more Of them
come along in April than in March. Nut
ton lambs ought to come earlier, SO as to get
more size and be sooner fit for the butcher.
AS the lambs come along they will need at
tention and care, to see that they get enough
to make them grow fast. A daily feed Of
one-third each of linseed meal shorts, and
ground oats, should be given the ewes that
already have lambs. 1t is better to have
lambs come aleng before the first day of
May, as it is q bad plan to have them
dropped just as the ewes are turned to grass,
or as we say between hay and grass. At
this time sheep lose their appetite, and the
lambs are dropped weak and puny, and are
quite liable to die.
come 10 Tor tnelr snare OF atte1tiOn uurlng
the month TO come. Sows that are soon to
farrow need care and plenty Of feed to
keep them in thriving condition. Breeding
sows ought not to be too fat, but just in
good growing condition. A fat SOW is apt
to be clumsy, and will lie on her pigs aud
kill them. A lean one is not SO apt to do
80, as they are more timber and sprightly
and can handle themselves better. Fat sOws
generally have small pigs, and do not give
so much milk as those in fair condition.
Have the SOW in just good growing condition
and then feed for milk, and if the breed is
all right the pigs will show growth.
Poultry
ought not to be neglected now because the
ground is bare and eggs cheap. Bugs
worms, and grassboppers are not plenty yet
and poultry need as good care and keep as a'
any time during the winter. Why Nor.
Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1874-05-01
For the VERMONT FARMER.
RIDICULE.

Most people have q propensity to ridicule
others, but no one likes to be ridiculed.
Nothing is more annoying than to feel that
you are being laughed at by some one in the
same room, and still be unable to tell what
ridiculous thing you have said or done.
What relief it is, while suffering this feel
ing to find that some other unfortunate be-
ing is the victim, instead of yourself.
The meanest kind ofridicule is that which at
tacks person unawares. and aggravates them
by smiles, whispers. and sidelong glanoes
in their direction, without giving any chance
for revenge except open war This becomes
habit, with some, from long practice but
others are endowed by nature with this
single accomplishment, and are incapable of
any other. Such people have no right to
appear In society until they receive su Efficient
instruction to enable thom to understand
how disgusting they are to refined people
Whenever l see two or three persons anus
ing themselves in this agreeable way al
ways feel like conducting them from the
room, speedily, and placing them under
proper treatment.
There is "A certain class that no one es-
capOs. Young or old, rich or poor, wise or
foolish, it matters not they are, alike, found
guilty of something that is source of rid
icule. To this class of people belong young
ladies and gentlemen who believe them
selves to be very witty, and so cultivate
their talent, publicly, at the expense of peO-
pie much wiser than themselves. 1t is to
be- regretted that this has become SO CON-
mon, and it is my belief that parents are
much to blame. They should never allow
children to ridicule anybody, much less en-
courage them in it, but some people seem to
think that it is smart" and cunning" for
their children to make fun" of people.
There is great difference between wit
and ridicule. A real fun-loving witty per-
son is never caught making fun of unior.
tunate people, or of any one, in the way l
have mentioned. This vocation is followed
usually by people who have II very exalted
opinion of themselves, and 1t is always graf
flying to notice how humble they become
when the object of their ridIcule "turns the
tables and deprves them of their conceit.
1t is doubtless at such times that they are
led to understand the true meaning of the
Golden Rule" W.
North DuGbury, Aprii 8.
Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1874-05-01
A COMPOSITION ON WEEDS.

A weed is plant growing where you do
not want it to grow. Thistles are not weeds
when grown, as they are in France, to make
perfume. The thistles growing in the Dea-
cons wheat are weeds. He does not want
them there. If you have six plants of corn
in hill where you only want four, two of
them are weeds. A dead weed is not a
weed. A growing weed pumps up water
out of the ground. The weeds in an acre
Of the Deacon's clover pump up more water
in day than all his animals drink in
month. Weeds propagate faster than rats.
l have got more rats than the Deacon, but
the Deacon beats me on weeds. The boys
shoot the rats. Yesterday they shot two
will come back again. The Deacon kills
hundred of his weeds and buries thousand
Next spring they will come up by the mill.
ion. You can't get rid of weeds unless you
kill them. If you do not kill them, they
will kill you. They are worse than foot-rot
in sheep, They spread faster than caterpil-
lars on currant bushes, or than the canker-
worms on apple trees. Some of the Or
chards in this neighborhood look as though
they had been sprinkled over with kerosene
and set fire to. The worms have eaten of
every leaf Some farmers keep off the in
sects by putting tar-bands round the trunks
of the trees in spring; some don't. They
think it is no uss fighting the worms Some
farmers think it is no use killing the weeds.
1t is natural for the soil to produce weeds
They say you can't kill them. The Deacon
does not say weeds can't be killed, but he
does not try to kill them He hoes his corn.
don't hoe my corn. hoe the weeds. l
would kill the weeds if there was no corn.
am not sure that the Deacon would. The
Deacon never summer-fallows He never
tall-fallows He never tries to make the
weeds grow. He tries to smother them up
for few months. He does not kill the
roots. He does not make the weed-seeds
grow.and then kill the young plants. The
weeds on ais farm are getting worse and
worse. My farm used TO be worse than bis
now some Of it is cleaner than his. l am
| fighting the weeds He lets them grow, and
is waiting for something to turn up. There
are thousands of farmers doing the same
thing, The weeds cost us more than all our
State, national aud local taxes; more than
all our schools, churches and newspapers
They are more expensive than children,
boots and ladies' bonnets. They are as baC
AS cigars and fast horses. The horse may
break his neck, and you will get rid of him
but the weeds will stick tighter than mort
gage, and run up faster than compound in
terest OR grocery bill. They are like baC
habits You must not tamper with them
No halfway measures will answer. Th'
only waJ to stop using tobacco is to stop
The only way to kill weeds is to kill them
Walks and Talks.
Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1874-05-01
4Uultrp.
HOW TO RAISE TURKEYS.

Select by weight the largest fowls to
breed from if possible, have the gobbler
from two to four years old. The eobbler
and hen should not be relaied to each other.
Have no more than four hens to each COB
bier, and do not starve them during winter.
Watch them closely about laying time, as
they nearly always hunt nest the day be-
fore they deposit their FIRST egg Make =
good large nest in some building that you
can con6ns them in, and the next merning
after they hunt their nest catch them, and
shut them up in the place where you made
the nest, for after they have laid one egg
there they will always gs back to that nest
If they choose good place of their own ac-
cord let them alone though put a few
common hens eggs in the nest and take out
the turkeys eggs every day aud keep them
10 a cool place. as heat Injuries them quicker
than cold, provided it dose not freeze.
let each turkey set the first time she wants
to but let no young turkeys run with a COM
mon hen, for it they do 30 half dozen
times they are more trouble than fifty run
ming with turkey hen.
The advantage of letting turkeys set on
their FIRST laying of eggs is this: the young
turkeys are hatchsd before the weeds and
grass get high enough to wet and befoul
them in the mornings watch them two
or three days that no weak ones are lost /;
then they get no more attention, only feed
ing whom they come to the house. On no
account give them raw food when SMALL
feed mine on corn bread sometimes soak it
in sour milk and sometimes give them curd
Never shut them up unless it rains hard.
have been raising turkeys for several
years aud have never had but one sick one
yet. Most of my chickens died with cholera
last fall, and one Of my turkeys took it very
bad, his flesh had turned dark colored when
| found him. gave him pill Of assafet-
ida the size Of pea aud about a tablespoon
ful Of equal parts of sulphur, cayenne pep
per and rosin (tnought it would either kill or
cure him) and he got we'll. gave the 9TH
ers sulphur twice week for about month,
and none Of them took the cholera.
Rtral World.
Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1874-05-01
For the VERMoEr farmer.
ORANGES FOR THE YOUNG.

There is very much said at the present
day of the financial, social, and moral ad-
Vantages that are derived BY the farmers
and their wives by becoming members OF the
order Of Patrons, and meeting in the grange
room and there discussing questions of prac-
tical importance, and gathering from each
other new plans and ideas for future use.
But there is one advantage that should be
valued which is entirely overlooked. 1t is
the advantage that farmers sons and daugh-
ters would derive by being associated with
their parents in the grange.
The young need and must have recreation
and food for thought, and they will either
find it in some harmless amusement or in
the ball room, the billiard saloon, or, what
is more to be feared, the bar room or grocery.
Their minds are active, aud, if allowed or
encouraged to become members of the
grange, they would acquire sound ideas of
practical economy. an insight into business
matters, and love for their occupation.
Not only this, they would give life and ami
nation to the debates, and their presence
would add to the pleasures of the meeting.
But" says one, IL can sell my produce as
high, and buy my goods as cheap, as though
my sons and daughters were members. l
joined to save." Certainly you did, and SO
did [. But, allow me to ask, for what do
we save, if it is not to be better able to ad-
vance the best interests of ourselves and
families? And think there is no better
way to invest a few dollars for the benefit of
the young folks than in making them mem
bers Of the grange. Your daughters would
learn by associating with their elders, not
only good, wholesome lessons in domestic
economy, but that a good, steady, industri-
ous farmer, with his brow sunburned and
his hands hardened by toll, is as noble, as
worthy Of respect and esteem, as the gay
city fop, with his fair complexion, his exquis-
ite toilet, and his mind, ofttimes, a den for
wicked thoughts and plans to ruin and de-
ceive. Here the farmers occupation receives
the honor it so richly merits; and your sons,
instead Of gathering perniciOus ideas and
contracting habits that lead to ruin, will
CLEAN wise counsel in all that pertains to
their chosen occupation. Their minds will
be filled with new ideas the family bond
will bo strengthened, and the result will be
better Sous and daughters, better farmers,
better members of society
The farm will seem more attractive, and
VermOut's sons and daughters will cling to
their Green Mountain homes, and the tasks
that have heretofore possessed no charm will
be invested with a new beauty, for they will
realize the honor and dignity Of their call.
ing Let US not allow the love Of gain ia
come between US and interests of higher
better nature. And, while we say "God
bless the grange" and prosper it, we would
hope that the young as we'll as the old might
reap its benefits.
STAR GRANGE PATRONEss.
Sutton, VI.
Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1874-05-01
THE BEST BIRDS.

Says poultry raiser writing to the PrGi-
RE Farmer, "Our common iarmyard fowl,
with good care, will lay one hundred and for
ty eggs each year, and give them each time
to rear a brood OF chickens. A Black
Spanish will lay two hundred and twenty
eggs hut does not set at all. A Leghorn
fowl will lay two hundred eggs in year T;
this breed does not set till three years old
Hamburgs Golden Penciledl will lay from
two hundred TO two hundred aud forty eggs
each year, but does not set till three years
old and sometimes not even then. Bramah
fowls will lay one hundred and forty eggs and
bring up two brOods Of chickens each year,
The average cost Of keeping fowls, of all
kinds, with corn at one dollar per bushsl
aud small grain in that proportion, will not
be far from one dollar aud twenty cents
each, per year.
Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1874-05-01
SOAKING SEED.

Many persons delay the sowing Of vegeta-
bic seeds until rather lato in the season, and
then try to make it up by soaking for few
hours or sproutiug before being put into the
ground. This is kind Of make-shift sys-
tenn that rarely proves satisfactory, for sew
eral good reasons or causes. Ii the sprout-
ing of seeds commences before sowing, they
must be placed in soil sufficiently warm and
moist to insure continuance Of growth for
the least check is sure TO destroy vitality.
We do not condemn the usual practice Of
soaking seeds in order to hasten growth, by
any means, where there is a possibility Of
gaining time by the operation, but only wish
TO remind our readers that there is more to
be lost than gained in doing it, unless pre-
cautiOnary measures are taken to supply the
growing seeds with moisture after being put
into the ground. Frequently We have
drought of longer or shorter duration after
the first dash Of spring rains are over, and
this usually comes just in time to catch the
late-sown seeds. The safest plan with all
seeds which will not readily rot in rather
cold wet ground, like peas, lettuce, toma-
toes, beets, and spinach, is to SOW early and
iOb bhou bpiOub III JuoI OWu ROOu Jiul0,
which will always be as early as the wealth.
er permits. If it should happen that any
have been overlooked, or a late sowing is
desirable, and a little hurrying up of ger
mination wanted, then soaking may answer !;
but if the soil is not moist it must be made
so at the time Of sowing, and then kept in
this condition, either by rains or artificial
watering, until the young plants have made
a good beginning. As every one who as
pires to good vegetable garden may have
occasion to apply water to the plants this
spring, it is well to make preparation for
supply early in the season Cold water
from well or spring should net be applied
until warmed little; therefore some old
hogsheads or tanks may be prepared now
and put in convenient place into which
the water can be stored for USE A warm,
sunny spot by the side of some outbuilding,
will answer the purpose very we'll ani we
are quite sure the time and expense of pre-
pairing these receptacles will not be wasted
-Moores Rural.
Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1874-05-01

broad; the tail set on high, and nearly on
level with the spine, and the ribs generally
presenting circular form. like barrel. The
belly as straight as the back.
The legs neither too short nor too long !;
the fore legs straight from the breast 10 the
foot, not too bending inward at the knee, and
standing far apart, both before and behind !;
The uecks having direction rather outward,
and the twist or meeting of the thighs behind
being particularly full the bones fine, yet
having no appearance of weakness, and Of a
specklOd or dark color, the belly defended
with wool, coming down before aud behind
10 the knee and to the hook the wool short,
close, curled and fine, and free from spiry
projecting fbers.