davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-02-05
Salt for the Dairy.

The quality of butter depends greatly upon
the purity Of the salt used. If the salt is
not clean, and contains specks OF dirt, these,
of course, are mingled with the butter, aud
become very conspicuous in it. If tho salt
is mingled with lime, as is the case with some
Of the impure kinds, an insoluble lime soap
is formed around every minute particle Of the
lime, and this appears as white specks in the
butter, which greatly reduces the quality.
When salts Of magnesia are contained in the
salt, their disagreeable bitter flavor is ac-
quired by the butter, and its value proper
tionately deprecated. There are but two
qualities of salt on the market that can be
used in the dairy with perfect safety. These
are the improved English "Ashton" salt aud
the native OnOndaga factory filled salt.
These salts are as nearly pure as possible,
containing only very small percentage Of
impurity. According to an analysis by Prof
GoessInann, Amherst, Mass, the former con-
tains 81 .65 per cent Of pure salt, Chloride of
sodium,) with LAB per cent of sulphatc of
lime and the latter 9S.28 per cent Of pure
salt, with only 81 per cent Of sulphate Of
lime. 1t is a matter of dispute among dai-
IJulSu MnlCu VI tnOoo tNO alS euS pobsSiS Oub
either is so nearly pure that it becomes
question OF price which should be chosen.
As but one ounce of salt should be used to
pound Of butter, and only half that quantity
when il is to be sold for immediate use, the
cost of the salt is a mere triae, which should
not weigh in the least against its quality.
The cheaper salts sold by the bushel are not
always made with perfect cleanliness, even
were they pure. The difference in the cost
saved cannot but cause a loss of several
cents pound in the butter when the cheap,
inferior qualities are used. 1t is a matter
Of considerable moment, therefore, that the
best salt obtainable should be used. 1t is
equally needful that it should be pur-
chased in sacks and kept in clean places,
free from dust aud all contact with impuri.
ties. For, if purchased by the bushol, or at
retail from the stores, it is rarely to be pro.
Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-02-05

Here is q fact communicated by trust
worthy correspondent of MoOre'S Rural,
which will he Of value to iloricultUrists. 1t
relates to the use of alcohol for scale insects
and mealy bugs, which pests are iron-clad to
such applications us tobacco smoke, which
kills the green fly (Aphis) and the free use
of water overhead, and moist atmosphere,
before which tho red spider (acarus) speedi~
ly succumbs. But touch scale or mealy with
brush dipped in alcohol and he is meta
phorically doubled up and dono for without
show of resistance. 1t is thought that
"Jersey lightning also known as "appe
jack" would answer the purpose equally as
we'll. Readers who do not care to encourage
the manufacture of these articles even to this
extent can accomplish the same result by
dipping tho infested plants in soap suds.
heated to about 100 deg. To 1870 deg which
immersion, incredible as it may appear has
not, in the writer's experience, injured the
most delicate fuchsia, gcranium, or similar
plants.
Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-02-05
ST. JOHNsBURY, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 5. 1875

quantity Of oat meal to peck a day, he
would have found it would have proved inju-
rious to his cows. He thought barley meal
was as valuable for food as Oatmeal, aud he
would recommend its use. He thought
there was value in the cob of corn, if prop
erly ground he would have it ground fine,
and not fed as coarse as was too often prac-
ticed.
Mr.. Ellis, Of Brandon, inquired what
should be given to COW in case Of over
feeding Of meal, so that il become "caked"
in the stomach. Mr.. Stewart replied that
fax seed stepped aud given to the COW was
the best remedy in case that could not be
had readily, any laxative food would prove
an efficient remedy.
Prof. Arnold said that in mild cases he
had found that feed Of salt was all that
was necessary it tended to prevent fermeu-
tatlon, and thus prevented the evil results
of "caking" Of meal in the stomach.
Gen. Davis, of Cavendish, inquired Of
Mr. Stewart how much cut feed-how much
hay and how much grain-he would feed
milch COW 10 winter Mr.. Stuart said that
would depend on the weight of the COW.
iAo uouullJ lOu W COW WolRuluH CuO W
1000 pounds l6 pounds Of hay, ! quart Of
oil meal, quarts Of bran, quarts of corn
meal, and 4 to s quarts of roots. This would
make about 25 pounds Of feed to COW per
day. He said there could be no objection to
feeding half bushel Of roots per day, if the
farmer had them to spare.
Mr.. Ellsworth. Of Barre, Mass, in re
spouse to inquiries, said he was making
about 100 pouHds Of butter per week, aud
he SC ,lded his milk when first MIXED from
the COW, to about 1902 and he is 80 well
satisfied with his success that he is not dis
posed to change. This method makes better
butter in winter. He had not tried it in
summer. After heating it, he lets tho milk
take its own natural course, the temperature
of his milk room being from 500 to 709
He said he colored his butter in the winter.
lie preferred the English carrots for color.
ing, but annatto was much cheaper and he
used that both on account Of convenience and
cost lie said he would save time in churn-
ing by heating his milk.
Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-02-05

year none SO far; while my neighbors are
having about the usual run OF luck. Last
year 10 a number of the Journal Of the
Farm, came across a cautious article from
N. p. Magill of our county, stating that At
the suggestion of a friend he had used
assafetida in the fall aud winter, about the
size oil shelbark to each COW, once week,
in thin shavings mixed with meal. Though
net pretending to recommend it as an nbso.
lutte specific, he believed he had received
marked benefit from its use. Being a very
simple and plausible remedy, tried it last
fall aud winter as recommended, and as stat.
ed had but few premature calves. One very
good COW which had never carried her call
full time since had had her -four years.,
went over nine months with very fine calf
This year l am using the same remedy-sc
far with good results.-Germanto,cn Tele-
graph.
Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-02-05
ny DIR. HIRAM A. CUTTING.

Bundle bees, or humble bees, as they arc
sometimes called, are we'll known by all in
their peculiar loud hum when they fly about
the field, or by the large noise they make,
when they are caught in room; but all do
not equally we'll know their habits Of life
and their peculiar history.
AS the sunbeams Of spring gain warmth
the Methuselahs of their short lived race
may be seen flying slowly about over the
ground settling here and there, apparently
without motive, but in reality looking care
fully over the soil to find cavity, or per-
haps deserted mouse nest in which to make
their home. Some species dig deeply into
the ground and construct nests themselves
while others construct nests on the surface
not caring TO avail themselves like the more
common variety with deserted mouse nest
lock of wool, or moss, which may seem right
for their future abode. They are at this
time very jealous Of observation, and if they
think they are watched will take instant Of
fense and fly off with quick, eager sound
very different from the steady, monOtonOui
hum with which they accompany their re
searches. 1t is entirely useless to try tC
watch one Of these insects in hopes Of seeing
her commence labor, for she will never work
or commence operations in any way, except
to crawl under a thick tuft Of herbage
where she will remain until she thinks al
danger passed, which will be much too long
for your patience.
Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-02-05
WHOLE NO. 21S.

My next trial was with Bradley's, but it
never paid, and l never have been able to
discern but little difference in my crops,
though have used double the amount I'D
vertised as enough to the acre. could per-
ceive little difference in corn till about the
second hoeing, after that l heard nothing
from it,
Last spring | attended Wilson's auction
sale, in our town. Should like to hear from
my brother farmers that purchased in the
different towns where it was sold, for am
positive that got humbugged S2O worth.
This humbug Tin my opinion) looked well
and smelt cloud" used it on pine plain
land, on a crop of white beans | had some
eight acres). | never have been able to tell
where 1 began with this "fertilizer" and
where left off, tried it on my corn, on
good loamy hill land, with the same result,
on potatoes ditto.
used seven hundred pounds of Bradley's
on part Of my potato crop, planting four
rows between where used my compost and
those planted with phosphate) with nothing
IN the hill, and don't think those planted
with phosphate were enough better to pay
for dropping it. l dropped good handful
of ashes on the shoe pat" on both.
used to use quite largely Of poudrette,
with good results, till that played clear out.
l Know if these humbugs fail to do "big
things" it is owing to the seasons, &C., these
fellows tell US; but from n,y experience |
have come to the conclusion that some of us
farmers stand more bumbugging than any
other people on the face Of the earth.
In future, think, when feel like buying
phosphate, l will buy corn, and run it
through a hog, or hen, for | fud that it
takes but small amount Of manure, rightly
composted and fermented, adding a little
salt, chamber lye, &C., to produce better
crop than any IF these high. h.priced humbugs,
bulk for bulk. In my next l wish to say
something about muck, as food for the po.
tato.-Cor. Mirror and Farmer.
Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-02-05

making them help reuovate exhausted soils.
They can be handled and controlled by the
above process as easily as any other teua-
cious lived plant. They furnish by decay
of their abundant growth of both stem, leaf
and roots a valuable lot of fabulum to the
soil. They can be, what is left Of them,
easily eradicated from the soil by seeding
down the renovated land to grass aud now
ing or pasturiug few years. Let the Canada
thistle, now firmly domesticated in our midst
be turned to some more useful account than
at present by being made renovating crop
Brooks, Me. j. W. l..
Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-02-05

When, however, this mother Of future pro.
geny has suited herself with locality, in
the small cavity Of the same she constructs
her nest by rounding and fixing this cavity
and in it building few cells in which she
lays eggs which produce only workers. who
arc intended to assist in constructing and en-
larging the nest
The Larvae are large, fat, white, round
bodied grubs with little horny heads and
curved bodies. When they have completed
their feeding each-spins for itself cocoon
very soft and tough. Herein they remain
until they attain their perfect state, when
they bite piece from the end Of the cocoon
and emerge as a chicken from m egg. They
do not venture from the nest at once but re-.
main sometimes several days. They are at
FIRST soft, greyish, moist, and very suscepti'
BILE to cold. In few hours they become
stronger, and their yellow and black bands
are visible, and at length they try fight,
and then become at once useful, and dill
gent.
Until autumn those bees are incessantly
enlarging their nests and multiplying their
little pots of honey. They never however
accumulate a great stock of provisions as
they only need enough to carry them through
rain storm in which they cannot collect
their daily bread. Among those bees are
found several varieties, yet they are seldom
distinguished by the common observer. Yet
some construct much neater and more regu.
lar comb for honey than others. During
the day they attend to collecting honey and
feed for the brood at home, generally return
ing at night, but in warm nights many take
the liberty of sleeping out in the open air,
reclining upon sweet scented flowers. About
the first of July the queen bee lays female
eggs only, and liitlc later the male eggs,
laying alternately male and female until
near the first of September; later coupling
takes place which costs the males their lives
as it does with the honey bee. The impreg.
mated females do not lay until the following
spring, as above described, becoming moth
ers to II new generation.
The males have no stings and the workers
and females sting only under great provoca-
ton.
As soon as cold weather sets in the work.
crs also die, aud the females seek sheltered
places where they crawl into crevices and
pass the winter in a state of Information.
Many however die, and think it safe to say
that of one colony no more than two females
survive the winter. They never winter in
the nest, though that might seem the most
convenient place. This bee like all others
has its enemy, the Psithyrus which is so
like the humble bee that it passes readily in-
to its nest, laying its eggs in the same,
which are reared by the bee as its own
young though destructive to them. Though
there are several varieties Of this bee, it is
frequent to find more than one variety in
the same nest. and it is doubtless fact that
they are not particular about what COLONY
they labor for, as when the nests Of two va
rieti0s happen to be near each other, there
will be as many workers Of one variety a s
the other, in either nest. They are peacea-
BILE among themselves, never using their
stiDgs on each other.
Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-02-05
Does Freezing Injure Cream.
Says the Ne,o ENGLAND Farmer

Says the INet1 England Farmer.
The following private letter upon the ques.
ton of freezing cream before churning, to.
gteher with the reply kindly furnishe US by
Mr.. l.. b. Arnold, of Rochester, n. Y, will
undoubtedly be of interest to many Of our
readers who are making butter this cold,
winter weather.
III have just been having little difficulty
with 4 churning Of butter, and | would like
to know what you can say about the effect
Of freezing cream on the quality of butter
have repeatedly allowed portion Of my
cream to freeze and never till to-day, observ-
ei any bad results from the practice, Last
week one half Of my cream was frozen solid.
IL was brought into warm room two days
previous to churning day, and thawed slowly,
but thoroughly. The butter was perfect
This week it was not fully thawed when
was ready to churp, so warmed it rather
hastily, but did not let the cream get above
707 in the pail in which was warming It,
l felt all the time that | was going to have
trouble with it, for it had the appearance OF
being already churned as fast as it thawed.
had two pals Of cream, one unfrozen,
and for fear Of overchurning the frozen part
| did not put much Of that in the churn till
the soft unfrozen cream had begun to show
signs of coming. 1t worked we'll, churned
all right came satisfactory, was good color
&C., but the first taste showed that some
thing was wrong. 1t is perfectly sweet, but
has that peculiar teeL-not really taste
that reminds one of melted butter, in the
mouth"
Reply by MIR. Arnold.
The practice of freezing and thawing
cream must be carefully conducted, or injury
is liable to follow. To freeze moderately, say
259 to 307 does not materially injure it
if it is not kept too long or thawed too fast
1t will grow bitter after a time by standing
1t will not, however, grow bitter so soon Al
259 or 800 as 500. To freeze cream
rery hard decomposes the cheesey matter in
the butter.globules, and thus not only doe,
the churning prematurely, but the trying out
also, as the butter will have the appearance
Of having been melted. In heating cream il
is important always to do it gradually, but
it is most especially so when frozen. 1t i.
then easily injured by too sudden change
aud that is probably what allied the butter
in the case above related.
1t is doubtful whether actual freezing o.
cream can occur without serious injury. Al
259 or 309 it is only the milk mingled
with the cream that freezes. To CONCEAL the
cream itself requires very low temperature
1t will, even then, change aud injure by long
standing. The injury, in this case, seems tC
be due to the milk or water in the cream
rather than the butter globues themselves
as after Churning aud working, butter may
remain at low temperature without serious
injury.
Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-02-05

cured free from spccks, which injure the APP
pearance Of the butter. When a sack OF the
purest salt to be procured can be purchased
for $3.50 to S3, or about one cent per pound,
there is certainly no necessity on the score
OF economy or of cost to use an inferior arti
Gle at half the price. It would pay to pro.
cure the best for use in the dairy, even
should its cost be twenty-five cents pound
instead Of the almost nominal value OF one
cent.-Neic York Times.
Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-02-05
For the VERMONT FARMER.
Dutch Cows for Butter.

We hear but very little said about Dutch
cows for butter think that it is mistak
en- idea that many have that they are not
good butter cows. wish 10 give my expe-
rience with them. l have six cows; three
full bloods and three grades one six-year-
old, one four yesr-od, aud four two -year.olds.
1t will be noticed that have but one that
has come to maturity From the first Of
last April to the first Of January | made
and sold S2S2 worth of butter, an average Of
SAT q COW, besides raising seven calves that
had new milk until four weeks old, and keep
ing one hog almost wholly on the milk from
these COWS. The calves had a very few
shorts. They are good ones more than an
average lot. The butter was sold from 81
to 3S cents pound, averaging about 80 cents
a pound. 1t gave good satisfaction. 1t is
hard, firm butter, with good keeping quail.
ties. We have used all the milk, cream,
and butter we wanted in a family Of SIX in
addition to what we sold. think they
must be extra for the cheese factory, as they
give such large amount of milk. Mr..
Thomas Baker, Of Barton, the gentleman l
had the most of mine Of writes me his are do
ing equally as we'll. He has very fine
herd, the best in the state | think
G. +. LINCOLN.
Woodstock, Jan. %.
Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-02-05
For the VERMONT FARMER.
FARMS, FARMERS, AND FARMING.
BY =. b. ROCKWELL.

BY 3. Il. ROCKWELL.
Two hundred acres, less or more,
Located near a business mart,
With good, fair buildings, has In store
A pleasant home which joys impart.
The men called farmers, VIC maintain,
Are those who rank among the first,
Well balanced In both nerve and brain,
They win success, and seldom burst,
OF all pursuits, upon the earth,
The one called farming we declare
Ts have the most Of solid worth,
With which no others can compare.
The farms within our lovely state
Yield good returns for labor spent
Although they are not very great,
They do return, fair per cent.
How few the failures, in the ranks
or those who pillow and till the soil,
The reasons are, they play no pranks
Which tends their health and brains 10 spoil.
They are 4 noble class-and one
That's so regarded, by the wise
Ifhold in light esteem by some,
IT'S only those we should dssPi's.
Statistics show that they are blest,
And do outliVo each other class;
Mechanics, merchants, and the rest,
In length Of liio they do surpass.
In morals, too, they rank the best,
In business shun what seemeth wrong,
With Virtuous habits greatly blest,
They do their pilgrimage proong.
Should farmers cease TO till the earth,
II soon would fail to furnish bread
Instead OF food there'd be q dearth,
To strangely multiply the dead.
or all pursuits, 1t doth appear
All others this doth undeTliS.
Statistics prove 1t amply clear
From this tho world gains her supply.
We're we 10 change our business course,
farmer we would sure become.
For health and peace no other source
Can equal this, beneath the sun,
Therefore this business well applaud.
In verse and prose, at home, abroad.
iiddisbuTy, Jan. 1876.
Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-02-05

"Iere we are, within quarter Of mile
of land" was the joyful announcement made
by the captain of IN ocean steamer to his
grumbling passengers. "WhereP" (which
way is itP" We're the eager exclamations
which followed. "AnYwhere down below
THERE" said the captain, pointing toward the
bottom of the sea the lead gives us just two
hundred and twenty fathoms of water, aud
the land comes slap up against the brine"
Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-02-05
Reported for the VERMONT FARMER.
WHY WE ARE GRANGERs.

Z a Grange meeting. We hare lost ths nam
address Of the author.
'Tis natural for most Of Us,
Whatever comes along,
To think Of II impartially
Ere jud Eng, right or wrong;
Then !. :. meets our view ofright
And can our wants supply,
We give the hand of fellowship
And with the rules comply.
And there's another law, we find,
That's equally as true.
Where there's a want and 4 demand,
Supply will follow, too.
So when the farmers saw their need,
How all their profits went
To feed class Of middlemen,
They would not be centent.
They saw that farming would not pay
As they must buy and sell,
And while they fed all other trades
Thought they must live as we'll.
But they had no societies
And could not make a change,
And when they found they must unite
They organized the grange.
As brothers Of the order, then,
Their interests were one.
They sought tn make sifectual
The movement thus begun.
They met Mt first in Washington
And took the Patrons name;
From there they spread both east and west,
And north and south the same.
So when they reached our native state,
And then our very door,
Telling the tillers Of the soil
Their objects DER and o'er;
This village with adjoining towns
Said, "We can plainly see
'Tis juss the thing our farmers need,
And grangers we will be-"
At first the traders sacred at us
But, rs they see the -four,
And how their other profits fail,
Feel our increasing power;
While those who are opposed to us
Are benefited too,
For grangers bring the prices down,
Just as they meant to do.
'Tis not the farming class alone
That here tonight we see,
For all our useful laborers
May worthy Patrons be;
1t is that class Of Idle men
With whom we would dispense,
Who seek to use our earnings up,
And live at our expense.
Although we do for business meet,
And money matters view,
Our various interests discuss
And vote on what to do;
Still 1t is not our only thought
How dollars we may save,
It Is the culture Of the mind
That most Of all we crave.
Farming has been regarded as
A menial employ,
While those engaged in 1t could few
Advantages enjoys
For this we will not leave the farm,
Our pleasant fields forsake,
But by becoming more informed
The calling elevate.
We meet for interchange Of thought
On ali improvements made,
While thus employed, Of the result
We need not be afraid;
And five persevere, ere long
Shall see the wished-for change
When farmers have tho rights they ask.
For this we joined the g,ange.
Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-02-05

In Japan, wheat is sown in November in
drills sixteen inches apart one and Il uarter
bnshel Of seed to the acre. In three or four
weeksn row of peas, turnips, onions, cab
bage, or some other kind of vegetable, is
planted between the drills, and then the
wheat is regularly hoed and irrigated with
the vegetables.
Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-02-05

Representative Wilson, of Iowa, who is n
practical farmer, made some interesting
statements a few days since, before tho
House Committee on Agriculture, concern
ing the transportation of cattle from the in
terror to the seaboad, lie is opposed to the
proposed palace car for stock, and believed
that cattle should be slaughtered at St. LOUIS
or Chicago, and the meat brought East in re-
frgcrator cars.