davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-12-31
Steaming Food for Cattle.

The editor Of the New England Farmer
has visited parties who practice steaming
food for cattle, and gives description Of the
process as conducted by Bella j. Stone Of
Westboro, Wm 7. Merriield and l.. F. Ban.
croft Of Worcester, all in Massachusetts,, and
John Dimon of Pomfret, Conn.,, and thus
states the conclusions at which he arrives
after careful stndy of the question.
We have visited barns where steam was
used, and have found the floor flooded by
water from leaky steam pipes, or worse yet,
by hay tea from the steam box, and where
the covering boards aud rafters were all
coated with frost from the condensed steam
that leaked from some portions of the appara-
tus. And we have seen cows fed on steamed
food in stables SO loose and open to the
wintry weather that the feed would almost
freeze before the cattle bad time to eat it.
Feeding steamed food under such circum.
stances seems like beginning a job at the
wrong end, like saving at the spigot and
wasting at the bung.
The conclusion we are inclined to adopt,
after all our investigations of this subject, Is.
that if one has considerable quantities Of
coarse or inferior fodder to work up, and
wishes to make up for its inferiority by the
use of grain, aud if the principal object is
selling milk by measure, without special re-.
gard to quality, and if the number of cows
kept is large, say twenty or more, and one
expects these conditions to exist several
years, it will pay to purchase good steam
boiler and cook the feed for his COWS but if
the number Of animals is small, the quality of
hay the very best, as when good grass is cut
before it blossoms, aud the object of feeding
is anything but making milk for market, he
had better make his stables as warm aud COM
Portable as possible, and feed his hay whole
and raw, rather than incur the expense and
extra labor necessary for steaming food We
also believe that many who have adopted
steaming aud have, at the same time, made
their barns warm and comfortable by tighter
covering, or by FIRE from the furnace. or by
both, and have also warmed the water drunk
by the COWS. would fnd it not q little puz.
zling to decide just how much OF the inn
provement in the condition OF the animals,
the increase in the amount of milk, aud saw.
ing of fodder is due to steaming or cooking
the food, aud how much to the general i'm.
provement in the care aud management Of
the animals which usually accompanies the
introduction Of steamer on the farm.
Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-12-31
For the VERMONT fARuEa.
Charcoal Its Properties and Uses.

Wood, from which charcoal is manufac-
tured. consists of three elements Carbon,
aud oxygen and hydrogen gases, with lit
tie inorganic matter remaining after combus.
ton in the form Of ashes. Hence, though
the hydrogen is in excess when compared
with the formula representing water, wood
may, for convenience, be represented by car.
bon aud water. When wool is burned in
the open air, or where the air has free access
to it, the water is set at liberty and passes
of into the atmosphere in the form Of vapor
aud subsequently, falls to the earth IN rain,
snow aud dew. The carbon untes with the
oxygen Of the air, forming csrbonic acid gas,
rises aud becomes difiuscd through the at.
mosphere to be again absorbed by the leaves
Of plants.
When wood is excluded from the free ac.
cess of air, as in pits, the result is very diff.
ferent. The water is expelled; but the
carbon remains aud is familiarly known as
charcoal This may now be submitted to the
most intense heat without change provided
oxygen be excluded. But it heated in open
air it burns up. unitos with the oxygen Of
the atmosphere as in the former case, leaving
also the inorganic matter.
The absorbing power Of charcoal, when
new, is very great. 1t then takes up 80
times its bulk Of ammoniacal gas u times
its bulk of hydrogen. Its absorbing power
is greatest in that made Of the most solid
wood, aud diminishes when reduced to pow
der.
BY it's great power of absorption charcoal
can be made very servicAble about buildings
where slops are thrown in the privy aud
all places where noxious, offensive vapors
arise to endapger health and comfort. And
by thus taking up ammOniacal aud Other
gases it may be applied to the soil TO the
advantage of growing crops. 1t is itself ar
element of every plant, and when its dsin
tegration is effected it must be Of value tC
the soil. But whether this will occur 10 O
generation, the writer is not able to say. Itl
disintegrStion is certainly very slow hence
the importance of its reduction to smal
pieces or powder before application.
In 1912 Mr. Fleming, Eugishman, mad'
a very interesting experiment with ~ differ
ent fertilizers, and among this number wa
charcoal reduced to powder. The land il
described as eight loan, loose in texture
hard, full Of small stones, and as nearly a
possible OF the same quality" The lan'
was divided of into 23 plots, aud each wa
treated with different fertilizer, except thu
last, which received nothing Plot re
ceived night soil aud peat mixed plot D
sulpbate Of ammonia, quick lime aud SCOT
plot 6, wood charcoal at the rate Of o.
bushels per imperial acre plot IL, natura
guanO plot ls, wood ashes plot 22, farm
Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-12-31

We had the pleasure, recently, Of visit
to Lake Side Farm, the residence Of L. s.
Drew Of South Burlington. Mr. Drew owns
240 acres of land on the borders Of Cham.
plain. From his elegant farm home, which
commands magnificent view of the lake
and the Adirondacks, his land slopes down
to the lake shore.
Mr. Drew believes in the value Of blood,
and practices what he breaches. His herd
Of Ayrshire cattle, now numbering nineteen,
are quite we'll known to Vermonters through
their frequent exhibition at the state fairs.
where they have won large number Of
first prizes. His pedigrees are all recorded
in the herd book. He also has his own herd
record kept in systematic way, showing the
name, color, date of BIRTH pedigree land
produce of cows) aud disposition of every
animal. if sold. Mr. d. breeds for milk, and
has produced some 6ne mixers.
The stallion "Drew." one Of Waikiki chiefs
get, has place on the farm, as we'll as sew
eral young colts Of choice blood one being
by Bismarck, he by Rysdick's Hambleto.
nian, and full brother to Mr. Backman s
Idol and Gazele (sold for S26,000) y.
A flock of fifty pure bred Merino sheep
exhibiting good constitution and heavy
heeces was not the least attraction.
After dinner Mr. Drew invited US to take
a seat behind fine stepping pair of colts,
and gave us twelve mile ride to Hines.
burgh, where the Rev Mr. Hibbarl of Char.
lotts rewarded him by glimpse of the
"bright side of farming
Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-12-31
sSssp breeders of Vermont will have TO look
ont or ba ,r;1 ha ~ tha haod

sassp breeders Of Vermont will have TO look
out or he will be at the head.
Everything on the farm looked we'll, aud
appeared to have good care. For example,
one of their cats weighs only IL pounds, aud
measures three feet from tip Of nose 10 tip Of
tail. There is good sugar orchard on the
place, and from 1900 to 1900 pounds Of
sugar year are made.
trust this farm will be kept and worked
by Mead as long as any farming is done
in Vermont. Then John II. must think
of other farm stock than sheep.l Such cases
are very rare. We do not stay long enough in
place to make home. The average Yam.
kee buys farm, "skins it, sells it for what
it will bring, buys another and puts it
through the same process.
What difference It would make if farms
could remain iu the family, as this farm has.
Every generation could make improvements,
set out trees, that when one hundred years
old would be worth as many dollars. Shade
trees are worth caring for have heard
many men remark that they would give a
hundred dollars if they had such an elm as
some Of their more fortunate neighbors had.
On being asked why they did not set out one
that answered, it takes too long for them tc
gtow and my boys will never make farmers
Mr. Mead has glorious future before him
and predict he will make his mark yet.
JomN g.. McKEEN.
South AciOorth, ~ n.
Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-12-31
FOR the VERMONT FARHER.
Subduing Bees.

Many persons are deferred from keeping
bees from the fear of stings yet were it not
for their stings, the birds, ants, wasPs and
other enemies would prey upon them and
their stores until, doubtless, the race would
soon become extinct. But the command
given to man to "have dominion over the
fowl of the air, the fish Of the sea- etc,
applies not less 10 the industrious but vindict.
i've bee than to the beasts tf the field. The
will horse of the plains, by little skilliul
management becomes docile and tractable,
and the elephant, that mighty giant Of the
eastern junges, soon becomes the most obe-
dent servant of man. Aud so may that
instinct given to bees 10 defend their stores
be easily overcome and they become as
harmless as flies.
Bees, when filled with honey or thor
oughly frightened, seem to lose a II disposition
to sting, aud become harmless and tractable
Shutting the entrance Of the hive and rappipg
upon it for few moments, or blowing n
little smoke into the entrance before they
are disturbed. will fr'ghten them, when they
will at once Gil themselves with honey, AMI
any necessary operation with the hive can
be performed with very little danger. Of
course there are some colonies that it takes
more time and care to subdue. A child Of
ten years understanding these simple axioms
can, with little experience, handle bees
nearly or quite as well as one oil those pom.
pous, putting, professional bee tanners" who
are not unfrequently seen at our agricultural
fairs, in the midst Of crowd of gaping rus.
ties, expatiating upon the merits Of their new
"patent, double, compound, back acting, rever-
sible, house-warming, surplus.getting, nova
bic comb bee hive" EARN rights five
dollars" But | am DEPRESSING.
Different kinds of smoke affect bees differ
emily. There are none of us who do not
remember the effect Of the sulphur smoke
used by our fathers. Tobacco smoke seems
to affect bees as alcohol affects man, although
macy use it still. believe it is not near
as good as that from cotton rags, or rotten
wood or punk. No lover of bees loves to
see them staggering about from its effects
Puff ball smoke is sometimes used, affect.
ing the bees as chloroiorm does larger
creatures, They seem to recover from the
effect of it if sufficient air is given them.
This kind of smoke is useful in uniting colo.
nies in summer. They should be kept confined
for little time after they come to, as they
seem bewildered aud are apt to fly away
never to return. For ordinary use | find
wood decayed sufficiently to hold fire (maple
wood is best) the most desirable. 10 case q
colony is very hard to subiue or in the fall
Of the year or 10 cold weather few stalks
Of wormwood with the leaves on may be
preferable and more effective. One may al
ways know after little experience when il
is safe to handle bees by peculiar subdued
humming they make after being treated tC
smoke. j. Il. 9.
Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-12-31
Putting the sOap.suds to Them.

A correspondent of the New York Tribune
says he has "waited for some one to invent
an easy way OF killing the apple tree borer
but the chisel, mallet, knife and wire are
only recommended, and in using them
have had to cut six inch apple tree until
could see daylight through it to kill single
borer. My way of getting at this miserable
worm Of tho dust is an easier one and
more effectual. l cut a sumAc or alder one
foot, more or less, long. punch out the pith,
cut one end with a slope, hunt the borer's
hole, clean it out at the entrance with wire,
place the bevellsd end Of my tube against it,
take some putty-like clay that get in our
spring branch, plaster il water'tight around
the end next the tree, Gil the tube with very
strong soap.suds, aud the thing is done. No
matter how crooked the hole is. or whether
it goes up or down. the suds in the tube will
force itself to the end. have trie it two
years and have not failed once. OF course
any kind of small hollow tube will do and
anything that will make it water tight will
do to plaster 1t with"
Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-12-31

In the FARMER Of December 3, "S." asks
some questions in regard to saving hay by
feeding meal. Having had some experience
in feeding meal, will give him, through
your columns, the results of part Of the same,
for am satisfied that it pays we'll to feed
little meal to stock, especially dairy stock.
The usual practice with farmers is to feed
all their coarse fodder to young aud growing
stock hence iu the spring they are not as
heavy as 10 the fall, having lost more in
flesh than they have gained 10 growth Of
frame. Thus We have lost half years
growth therefore We have but small return
for the fodder, as the straw does not cOAtAin
nutriment enough to sustain vitality and
promote growth. Therefore is it not better
Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-12-31

to feed straw 10 matufed stock end feed the
hay to growing stosk 4?
Ny practice was, when keeping dairy, to
feed my cows, when foddering commenced in
the fall. the wheat straw with meal while
giving milk then on oat straw without
neal and dry them off then on late cut haS,
and by the time they began to make bag 10
Pring, began again to feed meal, and fol-
lowed il uP till the pasture furnished sufi-
cient feed. BY that practice 1 had no
trouble with my cows doing bad" they
always being in good condition 10 the spring.
l will give "S." another result of feeding
grain to save hay, of which know ~without
guessing" The winter of '6O-'6l, succeed
ing the grasshopper season, OF course was
short of fodder, having no old hay on hand
and cutting only about four tons, by esti-
mate. and dairy of twenty-five COWS aud
teams. had, however, the straw Of nine
acres Of oats, cut before they were 10 the
milk, to save them from the grasshopper
also some wheat straw the grasshoppors
trimmed the leaves off from, but, not relish.
ing the boards, the wheat was allowel to
mature, and little other coarse fodder.
Other farmers we're as bad off as | was
tell you it was dark times for farmers, as we
could not sell cows for anything like their
value. For instance, the best offer | could
get for the best one Of six cows | offered to
sell was sll, the buyer claiming that it was
TO accommodate me that he made the offer
| did not however take it to accommodate
him.
After good deal Of figuring, | concluded
that, grain being so cheap, would winter
them at home rather than drive them of aud
hire them wintered, as some did. bought
western corn at 20 cents, and Canada oats
for 32 cents per bushel, from boats. mixed
two bushels Of corn with one of oats and had
it ground. fed about three pints of tho
meal to each COW, night AMI morning, with a
little straw, by putting the meal dry on the
straw in the manger, it being tight. have
always Seen sorry did not weigh the straw
given at each feeding, but there was but
little, as they would eat meal and straw so
clean while | was at breakfast that their
hangers looked as if just secured. A gaunter
looking lot Of cows than they were | never
saw, but they seemed to feel we'll, and they
handled better than they looked, SO kept
them on that ration till towards spring, when
| increased the meal They came through
the spring all right, aud never did better
than they did the season following. Cost Of
grain per COW $1,000, aud probably not half
a ton OF hay and straw. T. BAILEY
BridpOrt, December, 1875.
The suggestion that straw be fed to
matured stock, instead Of growing stock, is
sound. That straw is of great value as food
for animals is equally true. When Cut
early and cured bright, and accompanied by
small ration of grain, stock will winter
well on it. Linseed meal is especially adapted
to this use, as it abounds in nitrogen, which
the straw lacks, as stated in an abstract from
Prof Atwater some months since.
Such experiments as the above suggest the
inquiry whether it does not cost too much tC
winter mature cattle by the usual method, J
Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-12-31
For the VERMONT FARMER
Horse Power for Hoeing.
South AcioOrth, N. II.


EpIroR VERMONT FARMER Have you
had experience with different cultivators,
horse hoes and Thomas Smoothing Harrow,
to know how they work on our rough lands
Can hard hand hoeing be dispersed with by
their use2 S.
Our correspondent asks for the result Of
our experience, and evidently does not care
to have what We have learned in that hard
school mixed with mere theories of our own
or others on the subject. We have not had
wide experience in the use of different cult.
vators aud harrows for supcrseding hand
hoeing, and can say but little upon the sub
ject from our own positive knowledge. To
start at the beginning in answering the
questions we must admit that we have never
used any machine or implement operated by
horse power which on the rough, stony land
of our farm did actually supersede the hand
hoe. We usei the Thomas harrow last sea-
sou, and where used according to directions
it operated just as recommended, Graduating
the weeds without apparent injury to the
corn. Where the corn was suffered to grow
up three or four inches high before it was
put in, it buried some of it out Of sight
The harrow is not responsible for our neglect
to begin its use soon enough, and we incline
to try it more thoroughly another season.
Other farmers 10 town, who used it on both
corn and potatoes, report to us that it did
almost all the work 10 the latter and all in
the former.
We have used the horse hoe made by f.
ID. 4 o. +. Reynolds, Brockton, Mass, for
hilling potatoes after running through a COM
mon cultivator, at great saving of hand
labor. But the use of the hoe was found to
be required to finish up the hills
We have never used or seen the Ross
horse hoe in operation.
When corn is planted in straight rows
both ways, and the cultivation is seasonable,
thorough and frequent, the hand la
Dor il greatly abridged 1t is our
opinion, however, that the labor
of hoeing is less if the corn is
planted with n planter, for the reason
that the seed is distributed in a line in the
hill, aud the cultivator may be run very
close to the rows. The yield of corn is in-
creased by planting with cultvator as it is
in some sense drilled, the seed being scat
tered along in the hills, each stock having
more room to grow and dcvelep than when
they are all in cluster as is common with
hand planted corn.
There is u great difference in cultivatOrs.
A long frame is preferable, as it runs more
steadily, aud can be guided up close to the
hills without uprootng the corn. A
short cultivator which is " wabbling " one
way and the other is a thing to try the pa.
thence Of man and tear up his corn.
When witch grass abounds it is necessary
to have something that will uproot it, run
ming deep, aud taking everything before it
In other cases We prefer a cultvator to run
shallow, to have larger number Of teeth
which reach and turn up every inch Of soil
We believe 10 the use of horse power il
hoeing as well as in other farm work, and
shall be glad to have our readers give &c
counts oi their own actual experience.
Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-12-31
New Hampshire Board of Agriculture

The New Hampshire boari held meet
ing at Charlestown, December 10th. Ia
the morning Prof Dimond Of the New Hamp-
shire state agricultural college gave very
able address on the "Adulteration Of Food"
Prof Cressy Of the Massachusetts agricultu.
raj college gave an address on the diseases
of Domestic Animals" which every farmer
ought to hear. Mr. Sanborn read a paper
on "Manures and their Application" the
suggestions Of which, if needed, would in'
crease the wealth Of the farmers of New
Hampshire many millions.
In the afternoon John q. McKeen Of
South Acworth read one Of his sensible pa
pers on Poultry" aud Dea Butfum gave a
sound talk on Meat Stock"
The evening session was opened by MI
Adams in brief extemPore discussion o
Poultry" followed by Mr. Hubbard OF thu
Vermont board with a paper entitled "Car
We Make Farming Remunerative 7"
Mr. Adams then gave an eloquent address
on Farming in New Hampshire" when De'
RufFum closed the exercises by general rO
marks aud urgeut appeals to the farmers t,
stick to the farm, raise better crops and bet
ter stock aud give to farming the charActe
it deserves.
The exercises were very interesting an
the audiences expressed regret when the
were closed. The attendance was fair
good audience in the evening, though leve
spread its attractions 10 another hall 10 th
building.
Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-12-31
For tho VERMONT FARMER.
Hay in Place of Meal.

In your issue Of December 3, l noticed
communication entitled "Saving Hay by
Feeding Meal" l would say that, last win
ter, being short of hay l tried the experiment
of feeding straw and bran. l commenced,
the middle of December, feeding seventeen
cows with oat straw, three times day, all
they would eat; and every night after feed
ing l put two quarts of hot water upon their
straw in the manger, the water being salted,
which was what the cows needed. then
sprinkled over three pounds of bran to each
COW, and kept them upon that feed six
weeks. l never had my cows do better
considered it equal to good hay.
Now, if any one is short of hay, and has
got straw, he can save his hay by feeding as
above. This winter L am feeding twenty
five cows the same feed except that give
two quarts OF corn and oats, ground. If l
had to buy my grain l should much prefer
bran, as the manure from bran is worth
more than that from any other kind of feed.
ANDREW j. HoLLIsTER.
North Montpelier, December 9.
Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-12-31
A Happy Retort.

Rev Mr. Hibbard of Charlotte gave lee
ture at the Hiuesburgh meeting OF the board
on the alright Side of Farming" which
abounded in sound suggestions and was enliv.
ened by frequent hard hits aud witty thrusts,
all in such pleasant vein that the victims
could not help joining in the merriment Of
the audience, who we're kept in the happi-
est possible humor. In the questioning
which followed Mr. Fassetts talk on the
selection Of dairy cows, Mr. Hibbard, who
is a practical farmer, as well as clergyman,
Joined, iuquiriug especially in reference to
selecting and raising calves, to all Of which
Mr. +. gave direct answers. But this sunny
tempered agricultural parSou didnt seem to
be quite satisfied with the information he
got, and so he sought to get an answer
which would cover the whole ground by
asking what would you do in this matter
If you was in my place?" Mr. Fassett in-
stantIy replied in his dry, quiet way Ill
was in your place | would preach" The
roar of laughter which greeted this witty
response was contagious, aud kept breaking
out in spots aud spreading. When we part.
ed from our clerical co.laborer 10 the thorny
field of agricultural progress be hadn't got
over laughing at tho settler he had got.
Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-12-31
ST. JOHNsBURY, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 81 1875

thing that is necessarily discreditable to
themselves or dangerous to the dairy inter-
ests Of the country.
The Grocer on learning all the facts in
regard to the manufacture of these goods at
the factory Of Capt Gardner at Mclean, has
the Caudor to say "from all The weight Of
testimony adiuccd we are fully prepared to
admit that Capt Gardners company make a
fair. honest aud palatable product, Of which
they need not be ashamed"