davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-10-29
BREvITIEs.

A fatal disease is attacking hogs, in the
lower portion of Iowa.
Prof Maynard Of the Massachusetts, agri-
cultural college, harvests three tons of grapes
this season.
A sort of "epizoOt has attacked the
fowls on Staten island, and many farmers
have lost all their poultry.
Rhubarb should be set out at this season,
in very rich and deep SOIL and top.dressed
with barn-yard manure.
They tried the anathema on the To-
Gusts in the Swiss canton of the Valois,
priests and people walking in the procession
through the blasted fields. But cursing
didn't kill them. Better send for Prof
Riley to eat them.
Central New York, the great hop garden
Of this country, reports an unusually good
yield, this year, of its favorite crop, aud
likewise Of potatoes, but the apple crop, also
a speciality Of that section, is failure other
crops, such as wheat, oats and grass, have
been abundant.
California is become an extensive grower
Of broom.corn. There we're 8,400 acres of
il planted, this year, but only One-third of
it made good crop, because of a small in
sect that covered the corn with a sweet
substance, and this attracted the bees, and
together they seriously harmed the yield.
Corn.fed hens do not lay in winter, for the
simple reason there isn't any albumen ma
terial in the corn. When wheat is fed,
there is fat enough in it to supply oil that
is needed for the yelk, aud gluten enough
to make the white, and lime enough to
furnish the shell 1t does not thus seem diff
cult to understand why corn.fed hens should
not lay, as they do not, aud why wheat-fed
hens should lay, as they do.
10 some experiments in top-dressing grass
lands, made at the Michigan agricultural
college two bushels plaster gave 4,l53 lbs |;
five bushels wood ashes gave 3,942 lbs /;
twenty loads muck gave 4,683 lbs; twenty
loads muck RAd three bushels salt gave
5,3lS lbsj three bushels salt gave 4,l84
lbs twenty loads horse manure gave 5,O23
lbs twenty loads COW manure gave ASIA
lbs. ...
England washes most Of the manure made
by her people into the ocean, and ther
hunts over the globe from Egypt to Peru,
for more TO waste. The Uunited States
does no better. But the natives Of JapaI
and China maintain the fertility of their soil
by saving what those who pretend to bt
civilized, throw away. They have no worn
out, abandoned fields.
Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-10-29
For the VERMONT FARMER.
Corn Husker.

Iu reply to your correspondent, who in
quires about machines for husking corn,
will say that we have Philips spiral corn
husker at work on our farms, and it does its
work in very satisfactory manner. 1t is
used with a common horse power, and husks
the corn from the stock as drawn from the
field, at the rate of from forty to sixty bush
els per hour, 1t will pick every ear from
the stalks, large or small, hard or soft, and
husk it in q workmanlike manner. The
machines are built very strong and will last
for years, being nearly all iron.
The time is not far distant when every
neighbOrhOOd will have one to do its husk-
ing, doing away with the slow aud tiresome
way of husking by hand. We should be
glad to show the machine to any one, and
feel convinced that they will agree with us
that 1t is great labOr-saving machine fol
the farmer, and one soOu to come into
general use. H, II. Il j. X. CARR.
Otord, NJ H., Oct 20.
Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-10-29
Merino Combing Wool.

Mr. 7. 9. Peters, an experienced breeder
Of sheep advises owners Of Merino sheep
to breed for fue long staple for combing.
The fabrics, as had OCCASION to remark
tho other day, now worn by male or female,
are manufactured from combed wool, either
in worsted or delaine--whioh is another
name for worsted, for all delaine wool must
6rst go through the combing process before
it is fit for the web As l suggested last
spring, the best wool, all other things being
equal, is the yeArling, and if there should be
any, of whatever breed, which will exceed
three inches in length of staple, it will do
for the comb, and by sorting the flock at
shearing, much good combing wool might be
saved out. Fully one-third Of the material
put into the stuff goods and hosiery manu-
tactured at Bradford and other great manu-
featuring enterprises in England, is cotton,
which can only be successfully mixed with
wool by means of the combing process. At
least nine-tenths Of all the wooden fabrics
worn in this country and in warmer
climates, IS worsted in some shape.
The cheapness of production has some
thing to do with the demand, which
is constantly increasing, and with the demands
of climate, shapes the exigencies Of fashion
In the last twenty years one can hardly
realize the improvements which have been
made in this and the European countries in
the various fabrics now worn and used by
all classes Of people, thanks to the results
of the study aud comparison made through
the great National ExpOsitions. If it were
possible to hold a continued Worlds Fair
In some place easy of access, the benefit to
mankind would be beyond comprehension.
There is no danger Of growing too much
cOmbing and delalne wool if grown for a
particular purpose.
Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-10-29
For the VERMONT FARHER.
Old Cows.

What shall we do with them to get the
best returns l will state how l manage,
aud hope TO draw out others through the
FARMER, which not only seems the most
appropriate, but really has a better claim
on us farmers in Vermont for its support
than any agricultural journal that comes
within the borders of our little state, 30,
brother farmers, let us who are taking IL do
our level best to introduce it into every far.
mers family in the state, and urge its sup
port, for it is labOriDg hard for our special
interest, without fear or favor from other
classes and here lot me say that the FARMER
Is the paper we should advertise our business
in. A few dollars paid for advertising will
sometimes bring very satisfactory returns.
inserted an Advertisement of stone and
stump extractor in il few weeks ago, and
IL is bringing me- swams Of letters from
different parts Of the state, all Of which
prove that the FARMER is patrODized by a
class Of men that look we'll to their interest
for the extractor is the cheapest and best
means of placing boulder rocks into wall, oil
pulling cOmmOn.sized stumps, that is reasons
bly, within our reach.
| see | am wandering from my subject
believe ripe sweet pumpkins to be th'
cheapest food to fat old cows with at tn.
season of the year. Feed all they will eat
Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-10-29
WHOLE NO. 255.


Half Of the prejudice against The use Of
pork as food arises from the custom Of feed
ing swine on all the odious filth on the
farmers premises, and so far as that practice
is indulged IL is valid objection to the use
Of pork. The Detroit Tribune says in relation
to the subject.
II there is any one thing in rural practice
which needs reforming more than another,
it is the manner of raising and feeding swine.
From the time they are large enough to eat
they are offered all manner Of refuse about
the place, such as rank weeds, filthy slops,
spoiled vegetables and meat, dead fowls, etc.
They are allowed to rummage the dung-yard,
and CLEAN the refuse Of food in the fieces Of
cattle and horses, on the ground Of economy.
But we imagine that the quantity Of food
saved in this way is very insignificant
to exceed the value Of bushel of shelled
corn year among the whole stock on an
ordinary sized farm. The objections to the
practice of keeping swine in this way are so
serious, however, that the reasons in favor
of it have no force at all.
The origin Of trichinosis in swine may be
always traced to the consumption of vile
stufs in their food, or to be housed and
yarjed amid filth and foul air. Every few
months the press announces a case oftrichiu8
in an individual or q whole family, with all
the horrible details and sufferings which
attend the parasitic attack. Only lately some
new cases are reported here in the West,
which are alarming. We are quite sure that
nd H.. anA
fatteus a pig will only need to have their
attention called to so important and serious
matter to secure complete reform in the
practice Of feeding an animal which will
take whatever is offered to it, and will live
in the most filthy holes. .a.
On the farm the swine should have clover
pasture, and for swil only milk and corn
meal, no dish-water or meat scraps from the
table, as they are sure to putrefy and poison the
mass in the barrel or tank. Pure water with
little meal added is preferable. The dish
scraps from the table to the poultry, while
they are fresh. Spoiled meats should be
buried or mixed with composted material (;
they should never be given to any domestic
animal. Large numbers Of swine are fre-
quently confined in small quarters with very
little regard to cleanliness or pure air. OF
course, some of them will lose appetite, the
FIRST sign of the arrangement Of the organs Of
nutrition and assimilation. They do not
thrive, but they are kept along till slaugh-
tering time, and are dressed and packed
among the lot. Such animals are extremely
liable to be infested with trihcina and other
parasites, and those who consume them as
food expose themselves to sickness, disease
Of lingering nature, and to death in most
horrible form.
Interests. therefore, as dear as health and
life require a thorough reform in keeping
and feeding swine. Let their food be as
pure as that which other animals consume.
Let them be kept in clean quarters and
have pure air. Let diseased or unthrifty
animals be separated from those in health,
and We may have no fears of trichinosis
among either swine or human beings.
Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-10-29
The Air We Breathe.
Hints ON warming Houses.

A conspicuous cause Of the low tone Of
the health and morals of the people may be
found in the impure air Of poorly ventilated
living rooms, heated by air-tight stoves.
The vitiated air in tight room occupied by
several persons daytime or nighttime is bad
enough, but when to the impurities from
respiration and the exhalations from the skin
is added an iron stove, burning up the life
giving oxygen Of the air, it is wonder that
people live at all. A person whose lungs
are delicate experiences a sense of suffoca-
tion after few minutes in such an atmos-
phere. When the half.vitalized blood reaches
the brain, his head feels as if it would
snap.
There is no way of warming house so
favorable to the health and long life of its
inmates as the old Fireplace, with its aud.
irons, and open throat taking away with the
smoke the CarbOnic acid gas SO fatal to life.
But the cost of fuel puts the indulgence in
these beyond the reach of most people.
The furnace as commonly constructed and
managed is 6rst-class generator Of foul
gas, as we'll as a great consumer of fuel.
So far as our own observation has ex-
tended, the two best and most healthful
methods of warming are by steam radiators
and the soapstone stove. The former for
those who have the means to afford il leaves
little to be desired, The sOapstone stove is
within the means of all. These stoves have
a light skeleton or frame Of cast-iron, into
the grooves of which panels of polished soap
stone slip. and fit tight. There is also a
lining of the same material. They are octag'
onal in form, and have hinged top which
opens to admit chunks Of wood as large as
the inside of the stove. A very meritorioui
feature of these stoves is their capacity fol
keeping fire long time. A good chunI
of wood that Is we'll on fire when the draft i
closed at nine or ten in the evening will burr
slowly all night, and in the morning goo'
bed of Goals is left and comfortable tenn
perature Of the room. They retain heat
long time after the FIRE is low.
1t is possible to have with these stoves
! small, slow fire in moderate weather. 1t
4 a well finished aud tasty looking stove, suita
bic for any room. Their point Of great valu
. is the exemption from the burning Of the all
They give a mild, summer-like temperatur
: and tone to the atmosphere which is not ODl
!. very grateful to the feelings, but eKceedingl
9 favorable to health. We have had thss
stoves in constant use in our family for th
Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-10-29

manure in mixed farming consists in the
fact that il becomes an incomplete fertilizer,
in consequence of the too general practice Of
sellings crops without restoring to the soil,
in some suitable form at least, their ash
constituents. And this is serious objection.
There are two ways by which barn-yard
manure may be made complete fertilizer
for any crop, and these are; 10 restore the
soil constituents sold in the farm produce,
either by buying and feeding rich food in
addition TO the fodder crops raised, or by
securing sufficient amount of plant food by
using commercial fertilizers Which Of
these courses is most economical, canoot
well be decided on general principles, beyond
the statement that the first course seems to
be safest iu mixed farming while the second
course deserves careful consideration in the
cultivation Of special crops.- Scientific Far
Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-10-29
For the vERNoHr PARMER.
Improve Your Poultry.


Farmers should take more pains with their
breeding stock of fowls. 1t can be done
very cheaply by "grading up" their stock.
Select the largest and best formed pullets,
and get cockercl of some of the pure breeds
to put with them. If the hens are very
large, and show Brahma blood, q cross with
a HOudan cockerel will give good results for
poultry and eggs. If small, use BrAhma
or Cochin. If you want great layers, and
do not care for size, get Leghorn or Ham.
burg cock.
A cross between light Brahma hens and
Silver Spanged Hamburg cock will give
chicks of rare beauty or marking usually,
and they will prove wonderful layers. The
frst cross is the best, Do not keep over one
Of the half.blood cockerels, but always use q
pure bloodod one, Every breeder OF bloOded
fowls has cockerels that are disqualified"
from bringing fancy prices, that they will
sell cheap, and are just as good for crossing,
In breeding for eggs aud poultry for mar.
ket, marking aud fancy points are not nec-
essary, the main points being the largest
production of eggs, and greatest amount Of
dressed poultry for the food consumed.
claim that some Of the pure breeds will do
this better than any mOngrel, but the cost OF
breeding stock is much more. The best
breeders of fancy poultry do not depend on
the eggs through the winter for profits. They
had rather the hens would not lay until
March, as the chickens are much stronger
and better every way, aud the eggs hatch
much better.
Then there will always be quito per cent
Of chickens raised that will not bring fancy
prices, if the breeder is honest have had
the color Of one feather, or the ear.lobe take
off two dollars from the sAlable value of q
chicken. The longer any one breeds fancy
poultry, the more particular he is in the Sc
lection of breeding stock.
john G. MOKEES.
o0nM het00Tth, ~. III.
Friend McKeen makes good, sound sug
gestiOns in regard to crossing poultry when
useful qualities, "ths largest production Of
eggs and greatest amount of dressed poultry
for food consumed" are desired, aud these ar
just the qualities for which the readers o.
the FARMER are seeking. He is probably
correct in the assertion that some of tn,
pure breeds will make . greater return 70
) food than any mOngrel. II he had SAit
better than any oross.bFed or grade iow
> we should demur thereto. But if breeder
I. are growing particular in regard to fame
Q points and if the color Of a feather, or Al
: ear-lObe takes two dollars of the value Of
! fowl which for practical purposes, that
Q for producing eggs and Aesh, was worth Onl
0 SeVenty-aVe cents before; If the breeders {
Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-10-29

In the discussion on grapes at the meet.
ing of the American Pathological Society,
the Concord proved the favorite of all, and
the only one on which all could agree. In
discussing new varieties, the Champion was
alluded to. President Wilder said he had
one vine of it which had proved more hardy
and earlier than any grape he had grown.
1t was decided that the Champion and Tall.
man Seeding were Synonymous. Mr. Hovey
said the Cambridge was Concord intensified
or improved and promised we'll is nearly
as large, a week earlier than Concord, and
perfectly hardy; favor good. Mr. Fahne.
stock of Ohio wished to learn about the
Worden Seeding. Mr. Purdy of Rochester
reported it equal to Concord in quality, and
ten days earlier and fully as hardy. Mr.
Bush Of Missouri spoke well of the Cottage
as equal to and earlier than the Concord.
The Jaynesville grape is an early, hardy,
Iight-colored grape, Seeding of Concord !;
bunch and vine like its parent, but light;
an early and great bearer. d. B. Wier of
Lacon, Ill.,, says he wants later grape than
Concord.-[Oountry GentlemaR.
Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-10-29
A Good Herd of Cows.

A. M. Fay exhibited a herd Of Grade
Durham COWS at one of the Massachusetts,
county fairs, which the Boston Cutivator
thinks stands at the head as milk producers.
Of his Short Horn grade COWS, Mr. Fay
stated, he showed those that gave from $50
to 500 81 quart cans of milk per year he
had COWS that have averaged over two cans
day from june until now seven Of these
superior mixers were Of the Bates herd in
Barre he has one COW that gives one and
one.half can q day that dropped her calf
fourteen months ago He has COWS that
give him 1000 quarts per cow per annumr
and six cows that gave an average OF fifty
pounds of milk day per COW for sixty days
in succession, the largest product being sixty
one pounds day per COW. He had cows
that produced over 500 81 quart cans Of
milk per year. Mr. Fay's statements, predi-
Gated OF weighing bis milk once week, ex'
eeoded any Of the kind that we have ever
seen or heard. His milk product he estimates
at 100. 900 quarts this year, from twenty
eight COWS, including some heifers and cows
Of inferior yield.
Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-10-29

The importance of supplying absorbants
ia stables and protecting manure heaps from
teaching by rain and snow is not we'll UNDER
stood, and is not faithfully observed by more
than few who know that it is important.
Those who read the extract from Prof Goess-
mans lecture in another column can form
very close estimate of the amount Of loss
wheu the liquid excrement is suffered to
run off through the floor or wash out in rains.
If to this loss is added that of the soluble
portions of the solid excremeuts which is
lost by teaching, it is not difficult to give
one reason why farming does not pay.
Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-10-29

We desire to acknowledge the many ex-
pressious of confidence and good will in and
toward the FARMER, which we have received.
They are gratifying to us as they commend
tho work Of our hands and of our associates
on the paper. 1t Is our purpose to make
au agricultural paper worthy of the conf
dence and patronage of farmers if we pos
sess tho ability to do it. 1t is safe to prom
ise that our best efforts shall be given to the
work. If our readers are pleased 'with the
result of our labors, there are two ways in
which they can make an agreeable assurance
of the fact, by sending us something for tho
columns of the FARMER, or by showing the
paper to neighbOrs and others who may
thereby be induced to join our ranks.
Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-10-29

To those who contemplate wr iting for the
FARMER, VIC say, do SO. If any desire to
know what to write, the reply is, the very
best thing you can wtite for an agricultural
paper is an account of actual farming oper-
ations, which will show a success, aud how
it was gained, and how much profit
was made, or failure and how it
happened and the way to avoid it in
future, with very brief remarks; descrip-
tions of large crops or farm animals and how
they were made so, and what they cost.
The fact that Farmer A has calf that
weighs 1000 pounds at year old is, Of it.
self, of no value or interest. The animal
may have cost ten dollars more than he is
worth.
The lessons that farmers have learned in
the school of experience are the ones they
can teach to others. Reports of the condi-
tion Of the crops, etc, are always of interest.
Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-10-29

October and November are critical months
for farm stock, more especially young ami
mails. They lose condition, aud they lose
the strong vigor and tone of the system,
which are Of more value than condition,
before farmers are aware Of it, The feed is
short and Of poor quality, much of it having
been frOst-bitteu. The cold nights aud
driving, autumn storms are a heavy trial Of
the endurance of animals. These causes COM
bined often have serious effect in reducing the
animal before there is any perceptible loss to
any but critical eye. Any animal that
falls away at this season, is likely to enter
into the trials Of winter with health aud
strength impaired, and that means a thrift
less winter.
1t is necessary to keep bright lookout
for young stock Of all kinds. They have not
the yigOr and stamina possessed by the older
ones. A great part of their food is demanded
to supply growth, and consequently less !
available tc provide force to resist exposure
and hardship. They must have extra foOC
and good, accessible sheds to shelter then
from inclement weather. Extra food viii
not keep them thrifty, if they are obliged t
lie out in all storms aud through frost
nights. And shelter will not effect the sam
end without plentiful food. They must hav
both. Lambs should be kept where the
can have little grain every day. We ar
feeding lambs at the rate of twelve quarts t
Ahundred lambs, Of prOvender, composed 9
corn and barley cracked, whole oats an
wheat bran, in nearly equal parts by meal
urs. Il is surprising how they grow an
how strong and rugged they are.
Calves likewise, and colts need the sam
Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-10-29

nursing. 1t pays we'll to give it. lfyOuug
things can be taught to eat roots, and have
a little mess daily, it will show more than
grain. Ii ono calf appears to be smaller or
weaker than others il should have an extra
chance. Otherwise the strong ones crowd IL
away until it gets discouraged.
Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-10-29

Since our note on charcoal as fertilizer,
we have asked Prof Collier to give US an
answer to the question of l.. Il. l.. Prof
Collier states that the enormous bulk Of
ammoniacal gases absorbed by charcoal
unite with the oxygen in the coal and are,
by slow process of combustion, burned up
and lost. He can conceive OF crcums stances
in which the use of charcoal as top-dress-
ing would, by absorbing the ammonia in the
atmosphere and holding it where available
for plant food, be very valuable fertilizer.
And he is inclined to the opinion that spread
ing upsp the surface is the best method oI
application. 1t is indestructible in the soil
Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-10-29
We have from }. o. Adana. Esa.I Con.

" We nave IFOih y. =. huAma, ESQ Oon'
cord, N. H., secretary Of the New Hamp-
shire board of agriculture, full set Of the
reports of the board, in Eve volumes. We
have not yet had an opportunity for care
ful examination Of the volnmes, but a
hnstS glance over the pages discloses the
fact that they are full Of matter of great
value to the agricultural community. We
shall speak of them again after further
perusal