davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-10-22
Working Capital on the Farm.

And is this not the one great mistake that
most of us make when we purchase farming
lands in New Eagland2 Do we not, with
rare exceptions, pay taxes, and support
fences upon land which is, 10 large meas
ure, unproductive, and which must remain
so, until more working capital is applied to
itf Here is a large farm, undoubtedly
capable Of sustaining twenty or thirty COWS,
but which is carrying less than half a dozen.
1t requires just as long fence to inclose
forty acres Of exhausted pasture, as highly
cultivated field, and good deal better one
TO keep cattle from breaking through, for
there is nothing like hunger to make cattle
breechy.
As few of US can "see ourselves as others
see u.s." perhaps we can illustrate the condi-
tion that many farmers are in by describing
mill that may, perhaps, be found some
where upon one Of the many little streams
which flow through New England. The mill
was built some years ago, and has at times
paid good interest on the investment but for
causes we need not name, it was put on the
market and sold. The machinery was SOLD
separately, and was removed. The real es-
tate, including the factory buildings, the
dam and water privilege, and the usual
tenement houses, were bought by one who
had about money enough to pay for the es-
tate, but who had little left for purchasing
machinery or for hiring laborors to use it.
He always "took to machinery from boy.
With jack knife, he could whittle out a
water-wheel or windmill that would "go."
He bought the establishment because he
wanted to do something, and preferred to
carry on business and be his own master.
But not having taken the regular steps from
an apprentice up, he hardly knows what he
will make as speciality, but concludes TO
use his remaining few hundred in purchasing
few machines for making certain kind Of
goods, and hopes, as the profits come In from
his sales, that he shall, after awhile, be able
to fill his mill with machinery, and his
houses with tenants. Now, how many
farmers are there who cannot see plainly
whether our manufacturer is working up
hill or down, whether he is padding against
Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-10-22
Insect DepredatiOns.

President Wilder said, in his address at
the national genealogical convention, as re-
ported in the Country Gentleman, that it is
estimated by Prof Riley that the damage
done by insects within the limits Of our
country is not less than three hundred mill
ions Of dollars annually, and that Napoleon,
at the summit of his prosperity, never
inflicted moro damage on'a nation than the
liliputian insect army infiicts on the United
States, and well does he remark, "If an
enemy were to cause 4 small part of the
injury which results each year from the dep
relations of even one Of our insect enemies,
the whole couRtry would resound with
clamor for the suppression Of the invaders" /"
We have learned how to conquer the potato
beetle, the caterpillar and curculio, the can
ker and currant worms, the aphis and red
spider and the rose slug We can prevent the
depradations of the borer and the codling
moth, and may we not yet hope to devise
means to prevent tho terrible scOurge of the
grasshoppers in the West, and the phyllox.
era on our vines. Indomitabls persever.
auce is the price of reward in the acquisi-
tion Of noble ends, and this is especially true
in regard 10 the culture of fruits.
Accustomed, as We are, to the canke:
worm in Massachusetts, we as generally pro-
tect our orchards from its ravages as we do
our fields from the invasion of cattle the
efforts Of Ellwapger, Barry, DIR Hull and
others, are crowned with an annual crop of
plums, by little care, at the proper tune,
in shaking of the trees aud picking up of
the dropping fruit the canker worm is pre-.
vented by the application Of tar and oil, or
printers ink, for a few weeks the cater
pillar by the use Of the hand or brush for
few hours and the borer by few moment 3
examination and these examples are illus
trations Of the principles which l would en-
force, and Of what may be done; and were
we TO fail in this, it is through neglect of the
means which have been placed 10 our hands.
Thus God delights to toaeh this lesson ever,
That our success depends on our endeaVor."
The study Of entomology, as teaching us
the habits of insects, both useful and inju-
rious, is of the highest Importance, in con-
nection with the culture Of plants and fruits
And we therefore rejoice in the spirit of
enterprise which has of late been awakened
on this subject Were we to be told that
there was no method to prevent the depre.
dations Of insects, we should lie down in de.
spair but We do little better, while we do
nothing to prevent them, and if men would
give their minds to the subject, most of the
evils Of which We complain might be pre-.
vented.
Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-10-22

o.L.. ~ A. It. - e,- r. -
sn n.ss. ~ s-s o'"s' s'OS N",a ,..S..s s,.eo
-" !" VO"'o4u'uO0 u m's" Ou'''s"'O" ~,
80 . - p.uuus ino ~, Ponl " " mum :,
ST." 1 'o' fu"Vs wv
..s..-, 20 -- '.oey
OU".O y pOA, 'Op - 500" p.O0uOou "a'On
~ ~ 4N,uOo 'OO' va"uO' ',, 'uPPny VIZ" P'""ff
m s.It 'n' ~ N'o.,
r..ha. n.o.',,,".,.N" D S''9s 49,. '. O .,, , =.
e.. -. "a 60 80 ~.r -
LIN. ,Lou l., o....s..s'-I 80 - s'N.
,om.a;o,, g., y,,,.s III. -
. sy.,sm os nrnn;,. ,h;.h ~, s.,.: -,
49, ,.;,h;~ ~ 80 49, "" 60 -" - 'Do
,.oo. .r.'n r.p =. O-n pe~,
-, - - 20 s's"' iSe' ~Pa.' a"V
90. 80 49,, N 'OPs' O' us ~
Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-10-22
WHOLE NO. 254.
The Work of One Man.

b Some people at the West do not entertain
such very exalted notions Of the extradordin.
ary value Of the work of their agricultural
colleges as we Of the East, who do not ap.
preeiate our own. "Distance lends enchant.
ment." -i
BE F. johnson. Of Champaign county ILL.,,
one of TIE most intelligent and acute writer's
in the Country Gentleman, says;
Is it not a little singular that @. w.
Riley has, by his single and unaided labors,
done more to teach the farmers Of the
West 10 master and abate these insect
scourges and nuisances than the whole agri-
cultural college forces Of the western country
combined-a force endowed for such per.
poses by the donation Of millions, from the
general government, and sustained by
enormous appropriations from the legislatures
OF the statesf Why, in all matters Of agri-
cultural interest, they seem 10 be paralyzed,
and sit amid drouth, the desolation of insects
and deluges, like the Sphinx of the Pyra-
mids over the deserts Of Egypt--as silent
and helpless, Indifferent and dumb.
Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-10-22

the current or easily sailing with il He
has bought valuable estate, capable, with
adequate capital, Of yielding good income,
but while he is paying taxes and insurance,
keeping up repairs on the buildings, mend-
ing his dam, and keeping his motive power in
order, he is running only half dozen ma
chimes and employing two or three hands,
whom his mill aud water power are of sufi-
oient capacity for running hundred similar
machines and giving employment to twenty
families, and all because be has no working
capital, or is undecided just what kind Of
goods 10 make. ''' 81"
Is not this imaginary picture OF manu-.
faeturer working without capital too often
real one on the farm ? Does not every
reader Of the Farmer know that no
business bat farming could float q man
who msnaged in such wayR Aud is it
any wonder that many of us but Just float
when We are dragging along such a load Of
unproduotive capitalP The people are Just
now discussing the question whether We are
not suffering by over-production. How this
may be, we will not attempt ct present tos
decide, but u Is certain that FARMERS OF mill
owners like these we have described, cannot
attribute their i'll success to this cause. If
manufactured good are needed. Gil the mill
with machinery and the capital invested be.
comes valuable property. If agricultural
productions are needed, run the farms to
their fullest capacity, and they, too, will be-
come valuable. But when We buy that
which we cannot or do not use we are sink
ing our capital, whether it is invested in
factories, farms, or fddes. If any reader
thinks he sees himself in the picture we have
presented, he need not feel singular or imag-
Inc that all eyes are upon him, for, if we
are not greatly mistaken, he is on the popu-
lar side, and can claim companionshp with
the great majority of the farmers throughout
not only New England, but the whole
country.
If the case we're our own, we should try
to stock the farm heavily, just as soon as
possible. If there is q little profit In making
a little butter, and the demand would seem
to justify a greater production, we would
hire capital aud keep more cows immedi-
ately. OF course hay and grain, or both,
would need to be purchased the first year or
two, after which the great accumulation of
manure from the stock ought to make the
farm produce fodder enough for feeding it
without buying to very great extent -
New England Farmer.
Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-10-22
Too Little Working Capital in Farming.

Formers have in use too little working
capital. If they arc faithful to super
6cial culture, such as gained from the vir.
gin soil comfortable support in the frugal
days Of their fathers, when the expenses of
living were almost nominal compared to
those Of the present day, and the soil was
teeming with all the elements of fertility
which had been aocumuiating for centuries,
they are satisfied with their own efforts, and
attribute the want Of success TO the "hArd
times" They forget the conditions under
which farmers live and labor are all changed.
The soil no longer possesses the power to
return heavy crops of all kinds for the sowing
of seed and scanty culture without the use
of fertilizers. The pastures carry less stock
and do not fat it as we'll. The springs and
streams are lower and fail sooner, showing
less moisture in the soil. The taxes are
higher. The habits Of the people in dress,
display, ways Of living and doing business,
have approached to extravagance aud the
prices Of farm crops have not advanced TO a
point to correspond with the other changes.
These considerations suggest to the minds
Of those who study to solve the problem of
making farming remunerative, the newt
able conclusion that there must be more
thorough and systematic effort on the part
Of farmers to increase the produetiveness of
the soil of both mOwiugs and pastures, and
to consume the forage and grain crops Of the
farm with greater economy.
The farmer who because labor has been dis
prOpOrtiOnately high, have got along without
farm help, "dOing what they can aud letting
the rest CO." have invariably run behind,
If they have not contracted debts which
they can see no way Of paying, they have
done thing that will, in the end, prove
equally disastrous If persisted in they have
drawn on Mother Earth without making ad-
eqaate provision 10 meet the draft, Their
account in the farmers safest and surest
bank is being steadily ovsr-drAWn. The
rate Of discount on their drafts is ruinously
high. and the day of protest is approaching.
The remedy for this unhappy condition of
things lies in more thorough farming,
and Is attainable by every farmer.
A correspondent of the New England
Farmer who has expended all his capital for
Q large farm somewhat ran out, with small
Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-10-22
For the VERMONT FARMER.
Dwarf Pear Culture.
Grafton, Vt.

Allow me to say few words in favor of
the much-sbused dwarf pear tree. Many
people are loud in their denunciatiOns de-
claring that they never again will attempt
its cultivation having tried once and failed,
which failure was without doubt the inevitable
result of the treatment bestowed, There are
extremes to be avoided in dwarf pear culture.
The roots Of ounce upon which the pear is
worked are small, extending but short dis
tance the soil within reach is soon exhausted
Of fertilizing material which must be re-
newed or the tree will die. The trees, in
order to insure success, should receive the
same culture which good farmer bestOws
upon his hOed crops.
Grass should never be permitted to grow
among dwarf pear trees. No farmer would
expect to successfully grow corn or potatoes
among his clover, herdsgrass or redtOp, but
he sometimes plants his dwarf pears in the
grass field expecting to get good crops Of
each, which course is as absurd as the
Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-10-22
Cause of Smut in Wheat.

The farmers Of Pulaski grange, Tennessee,
appointed committee 10 Investigate the
cause of smut in wheat. Mr. Lynch Turner
reported for the committee that it was
caused by an insect enemy, The Rural Sun
prints the report from which we copy as
follows
There is a small, brownlsh bug, about the
size Of the Buffalo gnat, which makes its
appearance soon after harvest time, and depos-
its its eggs in the cleft Of the wheat grain.
These eggs are, OF course, soWn with the
wheat in the fall, and when termination
takes place, these eggs are enveloped in the
plume and carried upward in the future
growth of the stem until, perhaps, the latter
part of May, when those conditions favor.
able to insect life obtain, and the larV@ are
hatched and may be found in one or more Of
the lower joints Of the stem-rarely above
the second from the top. AT harvest time,
they may be seen with the naked eye. AS
soon as hatchod, they begin TO feed upon the
substance of the joint in which they are
ensconoed. These joints perform the impor.
taDt Office in vegetable economy Of securing
from the vegetable circulation the nutritive
elements necessary to the proper develop
ment of the several parts. Now, the growth
Of the stem is healthy until the small worm
begins its work but as soon as its ravages
begin, the farther healthful growth Is grad
ually arrested, as may be Versi6ed BY the
fact that the smut stem Is never so we'll
grown as the healthy ones around il; and
this arrest Of normal development, by the
injury to important organs, may explain
also the unusual deposit Of coloring matter
in the injured stem. In the meantime, the
grain has attained to very near its full size
is in milk stage, and is full Of high aud del
icate order OF vegetable life. Being now de-
Prived Of its life-blood by the viper hal
warmed into life in its bosom, it takes on 4
Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-10-22

nesia (2.2O), and slight traces Of sulphuric
acid and silica. Hence we see that the ash
from $500 quarts Of milk is nearly the
same In amount as from ar acre Of wheat.
Both the wheat and the COW also remove
nitrogen from the soil. The % bushels of
wheat remove 30 pounds of nitrogen, and
$500 quarts Of milk remove 80 pounds Of
nitrogen. This comparison might be carried
still further, but enough has been said to es-
tablish the fact that constantly feeding miloh
cows on a farm will impoverish the soil, and to
show The reason why old pastures run down.
In producing the milk, the soil is robbed of
Its rich elements, and the last is not re.
stored.
In the production Of wheat, the drain Of
the soil is constantly restored to the field,
but the old pasture which has fed the COW
suffers the same loss without compensation.
Some farmers bay grain largely for feed
ing and apply the manure to the land. and
it must be profitable investment, for in
this way, the very elements that are drained
from the soil are restored. And if this re-
production could be extended to the pas
lures, as we'll as the fields, producing and
selling milk, would be as profitable as the
raising of wheat. mean as profitable in
its influence upon the productiveuess Of the
farm.
As il is, the conclusion must be that con.
stantly feeding milch cows aud selling the
milk does impoverish the soil. This is proved
by the scientific facts stated above.
AGRIcoLA.
Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-10-22

The Smith American organs, advertised
in the FARMER by Mr. A. A. Magwire, are
among the very best in the market. We
have been acquainted with the manufacture
ers aud their business many years, and
know them to bear the highest character for
integrity and enterprise in the manufacture
Of their instruments. An organ from their
establishment is certain to be just what it is
representa-.
1t is SO easy to make a snowy case and
Gil it with cheap, shanmy work, that the
only security large majority of purchasers
have is in patronizing house which is
known to make the best and most perfect
organs, and that is the reason We advise any
one to buy the American organ of Mr.
Magwire.
Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-10-22

sort Of vegetable gangene--and hence its
disagreeable odOr. Ordinary exsiccatiou
completes the process, the insect having no
further connection with the diseased grain
than by its agency in arrestiDg its normal
development as here giveu.ii 16l Em 'qri7s
When the worm has completed his work
he bores his way out and 10 his new charac-
ter he is ready 70 deposit his. eggs for
another summer campaign.
Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-10-22

We have one Of the illustrated family
bibles advertised in the FARMER by A. L.
Knapp, and it gives US pleasure to assure
our readers that, in binding paper, print,
illustrations, etc, it is a very rich volume,
ell indeed that he claims for it. 1t would
be difficult to select more appropriate and
valuable gift for those about establishing a
new home of their own. or in fact for any
family or individual, as an ornament to the
centre table and for daily use.
Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-10-22

stock and necessary farming toels, narrates
his difficulties and says: "NOw, what wish
to know is, what can do to meet all these
numerous expenses 2 don't like TO feel dis
couraged, but sometimes it looks a little
foggy ahead, and sometimes find myself in
doubt as to which way am steering, and
towards what barbor am headed, or on
what coast | may land"
Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-10-22

Mr. s. M. Wells of Weathersfield Conn,
who has Practiced stsAming food on large
scale for cattle for long time, makes this
statement; Although l am in favor of
steamiDg hay and grain for cattle and am
practicing it on an extensive scale, would
not do 80 if all my hay were of the very best
quality" but he added, 81 don't think one
can afford to feed such hay when poorer
and cheaper quality can, by steaming, be
made to equal il as food for stock"
Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-10-22

Joseph Harris says, in "Walks and Talks"
in the American Agriculturist, that he has
an old timothy meadow which he pastured
pretty close last fall, and this year there
was not over half ton of hay to the acre.
How many agricultural editors and writer's
will admit in print that they cut as light
grass as that2
Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-10-22

A. s. Macrady Of Toronto, Canada, under
takes to relieve certain excitement among
agrioulturists" on the subject of the manu-.
faOture of potato fariua in Europe by Civ
ing to the agricultural press "the details of
the process" which we think he does not
understand.
Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-10-22

The Texas agricultural college was re-
Gently organized by the choice Of a faculty,
consisting of president and six professors.
With Characteristic southern economy and
foresight they fixed the salaries Of these
officials at $4,000, per annum and have
Sl2,lSO, to pay them with. One hundred
and forty.seveu thousand dollars has al
ready been expended on the buildings.
Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-10-22

Agricultural education is more general in
many Of the countries Of continental Europe
than in America. It's Importance is more
fully appreciated. In Sweden, for example,
thirty thousand pupils receive in the COM
mon schools instruction in horticulture and
fruit culture.
Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-10-22
For the vrRNoET FARMER.
THE cow.



! ... .... ... .. ..f - f H'.. ...
BrL. ". PKRT.
Ought not the bird and beast 10 tsachi
Since He has taught us how
To get lesson nom them, each, r
Fen ffom the humble cow.
She speaks this truth with silent misn,
Most htly for us meant
rThe kindest deeds are on unseon
Bs useful and eOntenLp i7.sl.. ts
within the elmSroe's grateful shade,
, The water courses nigh,
Her golden gin for man is made
To bless the world thereby.
Ths pebbly stones Newton taught
To GrAy were flowers sent;
And wisdom comes from COWS, whom sought,--
'Bo useful and content"
Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-10-22

Communications Tor The Agricultural Department should
be addressed the Agricultural Editor at Springfield, W.
, 1875-12-19
From the P4i,aik;7Skt3 Prc*tvteri1

T'V"A RTE (fsta4ki7|kfA &@Ft*oyEETtAn..
From the Worlds Dispensary printing -ofdes
and bindery, Buffalo, N. T., ws hava reserved
1.-The Peoples Common sense Medical Adviser,
in plain Ehghah on Medicine simpnaed," !" by
R. Y. Pierce, ". D., counseur-in-chief Of tha
Board Of. Physicians and Surgeons 1T The
Worlds Dispeusary. Whoever helps humanity
Ia its struggle with it's inherent wsahnesaes Ind
diseases, to bear Or cure, ia its benefs;sor- X.
nofance Ia hbt only Of itself cause OF disease
and mortality, but it is tie enemy OF every effort
to cure or mitigate. Nothing will 20 speedily
remove this cause as Knowledge I'm elementary
ope at least} OF the diseases to which we ars
heir, az we'll as thuse superinduced By our ostn
imprudence. DR.. Pierce haa rendered, in Oh,
judgment, benefsctors se.7ice, both to the
afflicted and to the profession. in his diagou0sia
OF the diseases treated OF, Aad in tho presenla-
tfon OF the phiiosophfo principles involved In
their causo and removal He is sparing Of rem
edies, and usually prescribes such ~ ara safe in
unskilied hands. As a book merely OF abstract
knowledge, it ia exceedingly readable and inter
esting. especially the following subjects: Cere~
bral Physiology, Human Temparaments, Pseudo~
Hygiene, the Nursing Of tbs Sick, Sleep, Food,
Ventilation, etc. In one chapter On anothe,
subject 20 delicate in IFS nature that it il ahu4
up beyond the domain ct warning 10 III but ply
biciana, 50 accursed in Its results to nodetn 10
efets. he Is most explicit, and Alike tae to God,
70 virtua to itfe and to society, Shows the truth
~ presented in the teachings Of soipture,-that
Life begins With conception, with great forpa,
to which is added faithful warnings.
Price Of the Medical Adviaef, 80, seut posi-
paid. Address the author at Bu1Aio, N. 7.
, 1875-12-19
Copper in the Human Organs.

Same recent experiments made By MN. Ber-
geron and L'Hote demonstrate the pres ence
OF traces OF copper in the human tody. The
fact that copper. when introduced into the
system throash tbs alinlentary canal, aecu-
muiates in the liver aud kidneys. served as /
starting point for their inquiry. These organs
ware anaiyzed III fourteen caBes, whose history
made il practically certain that no copper com
pounds had been swallowed for considerable
period before doath- They ware invariably found
to contain traces of the metal, varying ii
amount from quantity incapable Of
being numerically estiuatad-in young
man of Ito ons OF tHo r1illterams this latter
In the casa Of the body OF uan aged 7s- The
conciuslon il that when the total mass OF the Nv-
ct and hdness contains mere than miilgrams
Of the metal it muut h&ve bean introduced Into
the aystem in Unusual quantity. The traces
normally present ara attributable to such acci-
dental CAUSES Is the use OF copper utensils, which
IRE 20 geaeraliy employed in the preparation OF
food the greater part Of this is eliminated, but
= minute tFace Of the metal Ia found in the liver
and kidneys, and this is true vhaseTer the ago
sex, or mode Of life.