davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1874-05-29
PHOSPHATE FERTILIZERS.

In the dairy districts Of England, some
half century ago, the grasses were found to
be deficient in bone-growing material, and
to supply this deficiency immense quantities
of bone we're ground and applied to the
land. 1t was seon found that the grasses
grew more luxuriantly, and the milk pro-
duced from them was of better quality.
Wherever these bones we're used, the wheat
crop was largely increased and it is quite
probable that the doubling Of the English
wheat harvest, per acre, has been owing
more to the use of bones than to any other
fertilizer, Bones were imported from every
country that would sell them. At first
they were used ground cOarsely into half
inch size, but this required so large guam
tity to the acre, in order to reach the roots
upon the whole surface, that the expense
was quite too large. To obviate this, the
bones were ground as fine as possible, and
busted over the surface at the rate of 300
to 900 pounds to the acre and this was
found more effectual for immediate use than
the larger quantity Of coarse bone. But q
still more effectual plan was found in dis
solving bones in sulphuric acid. Tney then
became soluble in water, and 100 pounds
proved to he as effectual upon the first two
or three crops as four times this amount Of
ground bone. This bone, dissolved in acid d,
is called super-phosphate Of lime.
The old pasture and meadowslands Of the
old states need an application of phosphate
fertilizers to renew their early fertility.
Potash is also an important ingredient in
our grass crops and should be supplied in
the phosphates used for a grass fertilizer.
This may be done by an admixture of pot.
ash salts. 1t has been said that all the real
fertiizing matter of load of yard manure
may be carried in ones hat, and this is near
ly literally true, for of phosphate of lime,
potash, soda, ammonia, etc, there are only
few pounds in ton of hay or grain. 1t
therefore requires but few pounds of these
materials in fine, soluble state, to replace
what is taken from the soil in crop.
Some experiments have proved that these
real iertilizing materials may be furnished
cheaper than to haul barn.yard manure two
miles.
We are glad to see every effort for the
utilization, in cities, of bones, refuse meat
and blood of slaughter houses. There have,
in years past, thousands OF tons Of the most
precious material for improving the fertility
Of our lands gone to waste. But within a
short period many large establishments have
been built for saving all this refuse material
-Liue Stock Journal.
Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1874-05-29
SWlNE-BREEDING SEXES AT
WILL.

Henry Comstock has been experimenting
in this matter, aud thus gives the result in
the Indiana Farmer: Seeing an advertise
ment Of work under the title of Breeding
Sexes at WILL. one day last winter, l en-
closed the price and received the work. The
writer claimed that all such animals as were
bred in the early part Of the heat would
bring females, while those bred in the last Of
the heat would bring males, which was the
whole theory. For years past | have been
so feeding my breeding stock as to have
both boars and sows as vigorous as possible
about the breeding season and, as far as
can arrange 1t, have the sows TO come in
heat as near the same time as feed and be-
ing kept uear company will bring it about.
My boars are confined 80 as TO restrain them
from over service.
Of my breeding stock last fall, bred
ten of my sows, in the first flush of heat, to
three boars, all under as high feed as they
would take, and all ON both sides in good
condition for breeding. The result Of this
breeding was thirty.six boars and fifty-four
SOW pigs, or eighteen more SOW pigs than
boars If there had been nine more boars
and nine sows less, then the result would
have been even as to sexes | give the full
list of the ten, that your readers may have
the variations Of the results in the test.
IN
Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1874-05-29
SCRAPING FRUIT TREES.

Perhaps October and November are the
best months aud April the next best of the
year for scraping and washing fruit trees
apples and pears. There is nothing better
as wash with which to scrub the trees
than preparation of one pound of whale
oil soap to large bucket Of water, well dis
solved. There is nothing more nauseous to
insects than this 1t will lay "cold" every
thing that we have tried it on but the cur
culio that, however, cares no more for the
mixture, even though accompanied with sui.
phur, lime water aud tobacco juice, than if
it were gingerly dose of pure spring water.
But rose-bugs and the steel-bue grape-bugs
surrendered to its power incontinently. Ev-
cry farmer and gardener ought to have a
supply of this soap on hand for use wheuev-
er necessary. Apple and pear trees, well
scraped aud then washed with the prepara-
ton, will not only be freed from some of the
chief insects preying upon foliage and fruit,
but will sensibly feel its invgorating effects
-Sprinqfeld Republican.
Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1874-05-29
BEANS.

The New England people all know beans
aud the rest of the world is pretty we'll up
10 the same kind of knowledge. The baked
bean is indigenous to New England, and has
come down to us with Bunker Hill, Thanks
giving aud pumpkin pies, as a precious legd-
cy from the pilgrim fathers. We of New
Hampshire are especially noted for our love
of the baked bean ; to eat it is one Of the
requisite to proper observance of the Sab
bath to relish it is inherent in our nature
to bake it properly is one of the chief tri-
umphs Of the New Hampshire housewife but
raising 1t seems almost one Of the lost arts.
Where all the beans come FROM we don't
know. There isn't city or or village OF
any considerable size in the state which
doesn't import most Of the beans it con-
sumes, and there are few farming towns
which raise more than are eaten at home,
and these facts give rise to the query wheth-
er it wouldn't be well for New Hampshire to
raise its own beans,
On an average, bushel OF beans sells for
as much as three bushels Of corn. Can We
raise three bushels of corn as easy as a
bushel of beans2 An acre of beans will
yield twenty bushels it ought to yield more
than that, and the acres which produce six
ty bushels Of corn are very scarce. Beans
require less manure than corn. II planted
they will get along with less hoeing than
corn. Why not raise them then ? 1t really
looks as though We might put money in our
purses by raising more beans, But we sup
pose If the farmers were asked why they
don't raise more beans, nine.tenths Of them
would reply "too much bother it's puttering
work and don't like. 1t isu't sure crop
either"
We really can't see why, barring wood
chucks and frost, the bean should be an un'
certain crop As farmers generally raise it
it does not have fair chance. 1t is tucked
into a oorn-hill at planting time to take the
place Of blade of corn that should be, but
is not is soou overshadowed by the towering
corn grows in the shade all Its life, and un
der such circumstances is Of course more ol
less sickly and uncertain, but with an ever
chance in the open field the bean can b.
counted on with reasonable certainty TO yielC
a crop 10 garden where beans ar,
planted expressly to yield, aud not TO "il
out missing hills" they do yield,
But farmers don't like to harvest beans
it is putteriug, back aching work, and whe
they are harvested it's bother to thres
them, winnow them aud get them ready 70
market. There is great deal Of bug g-bea
about harvesting beans. In field by them
selves they may be pulled and set up, root
up, two rows in one, and in very shOr
space OF time in good weather will do I
take TO the barn aud put away upon pole
Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1874-05-29
Stuck Baising.
For the VERMONT FARMER.
RAISING CALVES.

There is noticeable fact in this county,
that last year greater number of calves
were raised than had been for several
years, and more are being raised this year
than list, it being altogether more profitable
than pork raising. Yearling cattle bring
this spring from ten to forty dollars apiece,
according to their condition, it being nothing
uncommon to get from twenty to thirty dol
lars apiece for nice heiiers, and sixty to
eighty per pair for steers, to say nothing
about males for breeding purposes. A few
years ago there was a feeling here that cat
tie raising did not pay, and the calves were
killed to such an extent that enough were
not raised to supply the natural decrease in
the dairy herds but the encouragement
which stock raising has received of late will
be sure to put this important branch of farm
husbandry in its true position, aud restore it
to its former Importance.
1t is doubtless true that you can raise
better COWS than you can buy out of the
struggling herds that come along. Besides,
it is one of the most pleasant occupations of
the farm,-the taking care of young cattle,
there being much less hard work, and sure,
certain increase, forming mixed husbandry
which is more profitable than dairying alone ;
and further, we have all the advantage that
that shrewd old farmer had, who, when
he bought pair of oxen, said he bought
steers, so if he "got cheated in the trade
they might grow to it," Thus if we cannot
get what we desire for them when they are
yearings, VIZ can keep them another year,
sure OF fair recompense.
j. Il. HoLLsTER.
Plainfeld, May lS.
Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1874-05-29
General 99rituIture.
ExTRAVAGANCE.

One of the evils which sfflict the farmers
of the West is the practice OF investing too
freely IN new patented inventions in the hope
OF saving labor. The prairie lands there
admit oil the use of various labor'saving
machine which could not be used on our
hilly and stony lands, which fact has drawn
large numbers of agents for patent rights
aud patented machinery, so that the affilc-
ton of sewing machine, tightening rod, book
and other agents so common here is repeated
there in multitudnous forms, and Of course
more Of the farmers are Ontrapped by them,
as the number Of these "walking, talking
machines" is larger. Here is an extract
from the letter Of An Illinois correspondent
of the Country Gentleman:
We have too great variety CT agricul-
tural implements, and the effort should be to
sih out the good from the bad and 10 re-
strain extravagances OF invention, rather
than encourage them. Such has always been
the tenor of my remarks in reference to this
delicate subject. 1t has been the fashion,
lately, to charge the women Of the country
with great deal of extravagance in dress
and decoration, and farmers wives aud
daughters have come in for rather more
than their share Of the blame while it has
been roundly asserted that the husbands
and fathers OF this latter class have shown
themselves guiltless of anything like kin
dred weakness. am not exactly OF that
way Of thinking The farmers OF the coun'
try, especially those Of the West, have man
Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1874-05-29
HoLsTEIN BUTTER.

am often asked about the quality Of the
Hostein milk for butter purposes | think
we get very good butter from the Holsteins
and will be exceedingly obliged to you for
your judgment on the small sample | shall
send you per express tomorrow morning
This little pail Of butter was churned yes
terday; it is from the milk of my imported
COW Crown Princess, and had no cotoring
matter added to it. As our hills have been
covered with several inches of snow for the
past week or ten days, it is fair to call this
winter butter Princess yields from IL to
10 pounds Of butter per week now.
GERRIT S. MILLER
PeterbOr0, ~ Y. NoU. Is.
The accompanying sample was of very
sweet and excellent quality, as deep yell
low as ordinary summer butter, but not
quite as firm and solid, apparently, as is us
ual with Alderney butter. Being but slightly
salted, there was, Of course, better opportu-
nifty to judge of its flavor, which all agreed
to be very pleasant to the taste.-Country
Gentleman.
Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1874-05-29

Some time during the past year the Board
Of Health addressed large number Of cir
culars to prominent physicians in various
parts of the State. One of the questions
asked was "What causes tend to injure the
health of farmers aud their families 2" That
our agricultural readers may have some idea
of what professional msA say in regard to
the matter; beyond the individual opinion
expressed in this article, we quote one or
two OF the answers m Ide
Exposure; too protracted hard work !;
excessive fatigue, especially in hot weather. "
"Overwork want of recreation /; lack OF
bathing"
"Insufhcient and bad y-cooked food ; damp
cellars; small bedrooms opening from the
kitchen inIr per drainage"
"Monotonous hard work insufficient va.
riety IN the kind of food inferior cooking
too little attention TO the ventilation Of sleep
ing apartments"
All the answers received by the Board
are but reptitions of the above. The same
report shows that dyspepsia exists, as a rule
in great majority Of farmers families that
Of other diseases, rheumatism is the most
common, pneumonia, pulmonary affections
and consumption coming next in order. Thii
is sad showing, but it will doubtless hav,
little effect. Eight farmers out of every ter
will insist upon finishing their days on sal
pork and according to the twelve-hour sys
TEN, because their fathers did so before them
unless they can be made 10 see their error
And is this at all possible The next gen
eration-if there is to be any next genera
tion Of agrieulturists-may be, and YER
probably will be, wiser. Let us most sin
cerely trust so.-BoStOn Globe.
Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1874-05-29
ORIGINAL HOME OF SOME
PLANTS.

From Siberia we have cabbage, buckwheat,
and rye. From Germany we have celery.
The poppy and madder came from the East
the chestnut from Italy. From Peru we
have the sunHower and potato. The garden
cress and onion are from Egypt. Tobacco
is native of Virginia. From India we
have millet. The pear, apple, horse.radish
and nettlc are from Europe. The citron is
native Of Greece. The pine has its home
in America oats in North Africa. Pars-
ley was 6rst known in Sardinia. From Ara
bia we have the parsnip aud spinach the
mulberry and hemp from Persia; the horse
chestnut from Thibet; the cucum mber from
the East Indies; the ounce from 'ae Island
Of Crete. The radish is a native OF China and
Japan. The name Of Zealand fax denotes its
origin. On the shores Of the Mediterrane-
an we find the coriander. From Brazil we
have the artichoke. In the Himalaya noun
tains was first found barley.
Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1874-05-29
REARING HORSES.

The quality and value of many products
are to be tested largely by the markets.
Beef, pork, mutton, wool, grain, lumber,
groceries, labor, and all things saleable,
have values that are ascertaned when offer
ed for sale, In beef this ranges from less
than two to more than seven cents per pound
on foot, according to the approximation of
the animal TO "scalawag" or "choice grade"
1t is fortunate for those who possess the en-
terprise by which the better quality is pro-
duced Il at the demand for such products is
always greater than the supply Witness
the purchase of COWS for S30,6 each, and
Of horses for fabulous sums that need not be
named. OF really choice products there is
never full supply; and this will be the
case 80 long as the production of the choice
article requires skill and care. 1t may be
that the semi-barbarous Asiatic or the
wholly barbarous African can produce rice of
as good quality as eau the most cultivated
agriculturist Of any country. 1t is doubt
less true that the peasant on the banks of
the Danube can raise as fine a quality Of
wheat as can the free American on the
banks Of the Hudson or the Mississippi.
But it is only in the hands Of the man OF
rare intelligence and fxedness Of purpose
that great excellence is attained in produce
tlon of the better kinds of our domestic an
imals, and as a natural consequence such
excellence is always rewarded by large Pc
cuniary returns.
At the present time there is great interest
manifested in the improvement Of the horse
This arises from the demand for better hors-
os, and the want Of a paying market for that
which is not so good, and Of which the sup
ply exceeds the demand. There is no do
mand for light horses that are deficient il
style aud action, and about three-fourths oi
all the horses in the country are OF that
character. But for the carriage horse, the
draft horse, the roadster, the saddle horse
there is always ready sale. To breed
horses that viii sell it is necessary that they
should bo serviceabe in some line; it matter
little in what that use consist but they mus
be good of the kind, and the kind must b.
good.
The time is at hand when the iarme
should know what sort Of horse he wishes tC
raise, aud must govern himself accordingly
He must be willing to incur u certain
amount OF expense If he would raise
five hundred dollar colt he must expect /,
use good dam and very good sire. a
Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1874-05-29

Not only are these extremes Of sweet and
sour wanting in California apples, but we
fail 10 secure the varied delicacies Of flavors
which characterize the scores of varieties of
apples sold in the Eastern markets, and
those varieties possessing marked individual
ity Of favor. The Spitzsnberg, for instance,
are greatly modified in flavor, when acclim-
atized here. Those who are familiar with
the apple instanced above, US it is grown at
the East, know that plate Of them placed
upon the table in winter land they should
not be brought forth for eating until mid
winter) will fll the room with their invig-
Grating odor and they will also testify that
the flavor Is fully equal to the odor.
The most partial of Californians will
scarcely claim that our Spitzenberg apples
are up to this standard, though with us they
are large, smooth aud shapely; while at the
East they are small, warty aud one-sded.
For the fruit growers Of California to de-
ny that their apples lack the extremes Of
sweet and sour, and also the finer points in
flavor and odor, would be but another in-
stance of the unwarrantable sensitiveness To
criticism, 30 characteristic Of new country
producers. And to neglect to supply this
want as far as possible, would be short
sighted, and would spite nobody but our.
selves. Our apples are not sufficiently sour
to make good cider, nor for cooking pur.
poses, nor sweet enough for rich, delicious
baking apples. Besides, there are many
fruit eaters who, for common eating ap'
pie, require one or the other of these ex.
tremes. Could we supply these wants, add
ing the minute differences of flavor alluded
to above, the safety which follows tho eat
ing of fruit, which is "neither oery sweet
nor Uery sour" would disappear, and there
would be vastly more fruit eaten the ad
vantage being as great to the consumer al
to the producer.
This "toning down" of the favor Of ap
Piles is undoubtedly produced by change oil
climate; aud such being the case, we must
not expect perpetual cure" even we're we
to introduce the most radical change. AnC
in order to successfully compete with our
Eastern rivals, we shall probably be com
PEELED to keep up an importation OF tree
and scions belonging to varieties which pos
sess these characteristics.
Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1874-05-29
PetI- SpGfferS.

The Indian question-Arms or aims?
boy on an crrand.
The man who carries everything before
mm--The waiter
Antonio found Shylock to be "a man after
his own heart"
Paper cuffs are SAID to have originated in
newspaper attacks.
The way to make n fire really hot, is to
keep il thoroughly eoaled.
Billings says :--"Misrry luvs kompany,
but kant bear kompetishun."
Why is II person who never lays wager
as bad as II regular gilmblurP Because he is
no he tier.
John Dog petitioned the Massachusetts
Legislature to change his name, and thoY
made it John Kerr, and he was happy.
What is the difference between farmer
and bottle of whisky? One husbands the
corn, and the other corns the husbands.
A minister called at the house Of Il friend,
and found the wife IN tears. "What is the
matter, my good sister?n 80, dear John,
my good husband, has run away with Wild
ow Smith, and I'm out of snuff.
A fellow coming from the Aleghanies was
asked whether it was as cold there rs in the
city, Horribly cold,h said he; "for they
have no thermometer there, and of course
it gets just rs cold AS it pleases."
An Irishman. writing from Ohio, says ii is
the most illigant home in the world. 1.-The
first three weeks, he says, "ysu are board
ed gratis, and after that you are charged
nothing at all. Come along and bring the
childer."
Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1874-05-29
horticulture.
FLAVOR OF CALIFORNIA APPLES.

The Pacific Rural Press, in a recent ar
ticle, says But with regard to California
apples, there can we think, be but one opn-
ion; namely THAT they are, in remark
able degree, lacking in strength and variety
Of flavor. Apple consumers here universally
acknowledge it, and so little is expected
from California apples in this respect that
the growers give little consideration to the
question Of flavor and as u consequence Of
this indifference, in regard to all fruit quail
tiles excepting size and beauty, varieties
have become 80 confused that dealers, and
even producers, scarcely know what they are
selling, further than that they are apples.
A gentleman, lately from New York,
wished to purchase some apples from fruit
grower, who was selling his stock of beauti-
fu apples.
'"What have you hero2" asked the Gus.
toner.
why, apples, Of course" replied the
owner, rather pitying the greenness OF his
new customer.
"Yes, | see they are apples, said the gem
tleman, "but what kind are they ?"
lie was told that there was no particular
name for them.
There is one more question ! want to
ask about them, said the stranger: "Are
they SlOest or sour ?"
"Well, said the patient owner Of the ap-
Piles, "they are not very St0set nor Usry
sour"
Here we have a just estimate, properly
expressed, of the character Of California ap'
Piles. They are neither very sweet nor very
sour, for as We cannot produce as sour ap'
Piles as are grown in tho East--some OF
which, to use a standard expression would
make pig squea to eat them-nether are
our sweet apples so very sweet as theirs.