davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1876-09-01
A New Treatment of Gapes.

Tho great fatality amongst young poultry
and pheasants occasloned by the presence Of
the cape worm (Sclerostoma syngamus) in
the windpipe, is well known, Many yards
are wholly free from this pest others arc
declmated, or even more extensively depop.
ulated by it.
OF the prevention Of gapes nothing is
knownb nbeyond the dcsirability Of shifting
yearly to new ground, and the necessity Of
extreme cleanliness. The cure is by no
means easy or certain. Removing the worms
| by a feather or twisted hair is troublesome,
and the operation is not always successful
Fumigaton with tobacco smoke is rarely
Of much avail. The administration Of tur.
pentine is attended with danger to the
chickens, and opening the windpipe and ex.
tracing the worms whilst the bird is under
the influence Of chloroform requires surgical
! skill. Hence a new, and as far as [ have
yet tried, a perfectly successful mode Of
treatment is likely to be received with favor
knowing the extremely active influence Of
carbolic acid on the lower forms of animal
life, determined to try the effect of the in.
halation of its vapor in the cases Of gapes
that came under my notice. During the
present season, have operated three several
times on chickens that we're suffering severely
from gapos, being almost choked by the
worms. Each bird was placed in a small
deal box, the open top being covered by a
cloth. then took one of Savory's carbolic
acid fumigators, which | happened to have
at hand. This consists essentially ofa small
metal saucer, heated by spirit lamp below.
On the saucer l placed about one dozen
drops of carbolic acid, lit the lamp, and put
the apparatus in the interior of the box, and
being Of necessity rcspired by the bird, came
at once into contact with the worms. The
operation was continued in every case until
the birds were in imminent danger Of suffo-
cation. They soon, however, recovered on
exposure to the air, and on the day following
the treatment were running about perfectly
free from any symptom Of the disease. The
chickens operated on are not now to be dis.
tinguished from those of the brood that were
not affected.
l write to commend trial Of this plan to
those poultry and pheasant breeders whose
young birds are afflicted with gapes. Nc
special apparatus is required, as any little
arrangement which will serve to voatilze a
few drops of the acid will answer but |
used that Of Messrs. Savory and Moore
having it at hand, and it being conveniently
adapted for the purpose.
In my time l have had good deal of ex.
perience with birds afflicted with the gapes
but have never found any treatment at all
approaching that Of carbolic acid in efficiency
Since writing the above it has occurred to
me that as everyone has not a spirit lamp,
the vapor Of carbolic acid might be used by
putting hot brick into the box, and pouring
few drops of the acid upon it.-W. NJ
Tegetmeier IN London Field.
Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1876-09-01
Weeds by the Roadside.

The New York Times has the following
on roadside weeds.
Another favorite haunt of weeds is the
roadside. Comparatively few farmers seem
to know that abutters on roads own the land
on which the highways are made. All the
title which the public have is the right of
way and the use of such material by the
roadside as may be necessary for constructing
and repairing the road. In most Of the
States the abutters are not compelled to fence
by the roadside, and many cultivate the
land down to the travelled path. In many
places farmers are removing the fences from
the side of their mown and cultivated fields,
and are thus saving themselves much expense
in fencing, and adding much cultivatabe
land to their estates. Not the least of the
advantages Of this new order ofthings is the
eradication of the weeds which generally in
fest roadsides. There may be greater i'm
proyementS in modern agriculture than this,
but they are not many;
Whether the roadside fences are removed
or not, the roadside should be cultivated
enough to be mown, and this will extermin-
ate the weeds. Our village improvement
societies, which are doing so much for the
asthetic culture Of towns, can do no better ser =
vice than to send man with his scythe to
cut down the thistles that disfgure the road
sides leading into the village. If they can't
do this, they can at least educate the neigh
boring farmers to take a little pride in keep
ing the roadsides in decent condition. We
recently rode through a village which claims
TO be "the lovelest Of the plain" and in
which there Is one Of the oldest village i'm.
provement societies Of the country-we think,
the original Of all the others-and we were
not quarter of a mile out of the village
when we encountered rank growth of
thistles by the side of the road. The vii.
lage looked beautifully neat, but the effect
was marred by this show Of vilainous weeds
in such close proximity. 1t is a narrow pol
icy that looks only to improvement Of the
village, with such utter disregard of the sur
rounding country into which the drives and
walks extend.
Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1876-09-01
Abuse Of Horses.

II. Goodman Of Lenox writes to an ex-
change on this subject as follows.
One of the most common modes of tortur-
ing these noble animals is to drive them in
heat, rub them off slightly, give them taste
OF water and then give them their feed and
shut the stable for the night. When the
oats and hay are consumed, an intolerable
thirst sets in, and then the poor creatures
suffer unmeasurably the torments of Dives and
would give much for little of the beverage
he wanted to cool their tongues and moisten
their parched throats In the summer es-
pecially, a humane man should water his
horses the last thing before going to bed.
1t is safer on account Of this dreadful thirst
from dry hay, to give the last feed of cut
food well moistened.
Another abuse is smooth shoeing in billy
country, even in summer. 1t will do for
level roads and sandy regions, but in hilly
and clayey districts, especially after storm,
the strain is tremendous on the feet OF a
smooth shod horse with any load behind him
Don't cut the frog even, nor pare away the
roof of the foot, but add to the shoe, how ever
light, either irregularities on the surface or
very slight cork on toe and heels.
1t is death to horse, as it would be to q
man, and the animals are a good deal alike
to wash his legs when he comes in warm and
leave them wet.
Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1876-09-01
Composing in Fall and Winter

The losses by waste of barn-yard manure,
so much deplored, are the inevitable couse-
quences of neglect in winter. When thaws
and spring rains come it is exposed to leach.
ing. The Canada Farmer says
Change the ordinary plan of pitching
your stable manure promiscuously out OF
doors. Give the composing and shetering
method at least one fair trial during the
coming fall and winter, and you will be sur
prised at the result. Have you vacant
shed or outhouse on the premises If so,
use it for the purpose of storage; it not,
erect something of the kind, however cheap
aud temporary. A common board or slab
roof, resting upon bare posts, is better than
no shelter At all. Early in the fall, before
you begin housing your cattle, cart a few
cords Of good dry loan or muck into some
place convenient and handy to your stables.
If muck cannot be got, use any other absorb.
ent like straw, leaves, even sawdust, sooner than
nothing. Lay a wheelbarrow load or two
of this absorbent every day in the trenches
behind your COWS and horses, and, in clean
ing out your stables, night and morning,
wheel earth and all out under the storing
shed. Continue this during the winter,
sprinklng the heap occasionally with plaster
Of Paris to retain its ammonia, and in spring
you will have ready for your fields fertl-
izing material worth fifty per cent more than
the best ordinary barn-yar manure. When
straw alone is used as an absorbent-and no
doubt it is most extensively empoyed-just
take the trouble of running it through the
cutter beforehand, and you will thus not
only lessen the difficulty of subsequent hand,
ling, but materially aid in its incorporation
with the animal waste. In applying thi'
compost to the fields it is to be treated il
the ordinary way, that is, spread broadcast
over the surface and plowed under, il on the
green sward; or thoroughly narrowed in, i
on the inverted sod. The principal gail
effected by composing is the preservation
Of the liquid excrements, which by the usua
method are almost, if not altogether, lost
and when both science and experience Alik
prove these to be Of more enriching valu
than the solid, surely it is to the farmer
interest TO do all he can to conserve then
and enjoy the profits Rccruing from their up
plication.
Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1876-09-01
Inflammation of the Bladder in Sheep

In ordinary fed sheep retention Of urine
and inflammation Of the bladder is not of
frequent occurrence; but highlY-lod rams
and wethers seem to be peculiarly liable to
it. This is a disease which requires the most
delicate aud at the same time the most
speedy treatment. The animals which be-
come affected are generally those intended
for some practical use, such as for exhibition,
which have received liberal feeding, and are
consequently of more than ordinary value to
the stOckOwner. Being in a highly fed con.
dition they do not withstand, so well as
other sheep, the operation necessary to get
rid of the disease, and the fatality from the
complaint is great. The disease is induced
by graveley sediment forming in the bladder
of the animal, caused, there can be no doubt
by the rich food OF which they partake. The
first thing to be done when the disease makes
its appearance is to endeavor to pass the
sediment off by gently rubbing the part
where the inflammation is. The part at the
same time should he bathed with warm wa
ter. Should this have no visible effect upor
the inflammation, immediate piercing Of the
bladder becomes necessary, or the inhamma'
tion being communicated to the kidneys, ant
subsequently to other parts of the interna
organization, the animal will soon succumt
to the extreme pain. Some sharp instrumen
should be used-such as pair of scissors
to penetrate the part with, when, if success
fully done, the sediment may be removed
This operation is the only one calculated L
save the animal after the disease has exceeded
its primary mild form, aud should there bo an
appearance Of straining, the sheep should b
at once killed. Too much roots, particular,
mangolds, are, to great extent, blameabl
for this disorder in sheep, so that the far
mer should regulate the quantity Of this fee
when given to his highly.ied animals Will
the animal suffers small quantity Of Cal
Donate Of potass-about a dracham dissolve
in water should be given TO it once or twic
a day. Easily diEested food should also
given .-English Live Stock Journal.
Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1876-09-01

A sale of Shorthorns owned - george
NJ. Bedford near Paris, Ky, recently, was
attended by l,50O or 1000 persons. The
celebrated bull, "Fourteenth Duke of Thorn.
dale" sold for 1900; another bull went
for $4,000. Twenty.oigbt cows and heifers
and three extra calves brought S37 $40,
averaging S7SS for females and about 81 200
for bulls. These prices not being satisfac-
tory to Mr.. Bedford, the sale was discontin-
ued when about half of the herd were sold.
Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1876-09-01

Low WAGES OF FARM LABOR IN MAssA.
ouUsETTs.-This item from the Springfield
Republican indicates that rates of wages Of
farm labors in Massachusetts, and lower than
in Vermont Perhaps that one reason that
laborers are so oath to work in the country
is the low rates Of labor prevailing in the
rural districts. Evidence at a late police
court trial showed the rate Of wages paid
for the present season by farmers over the
river to be from $40 to SIS per month, the
average being Sl2 for good, able.bodied men.
The one man who received SIS was repre-
sented worth two common hands. From 81
to $3.50 per day without board has been the
common price for day labor, all summer. In
the towns east of Springfield good stalWart
Yankees are offering to work at 10 cents an
hour and board themselves, and man with
one horse can be hired for $3.50 day.
Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1876-09-01

WHEAT BRAN Observation-Disclosures
have long believed that wheat bran contains
much material for making animal blood and
flesh. The analysis of wheat bran and -four
by Dr. Hubbell, pharmaceutist of Philadel-
phia, presents these facts. One hundred
pounds of wheat yield 76 pounds of -four
and 20 pounds of bran. The -four holds
in it Of tissue-making elements-glutcn
albumen, etc.,-l.6 .65 of phosphates and
other salts, 0.70-total 2.35 per cent
The bran contains of tissue.making elements
30; salts, phosphates, etc., 7.05-total
lO.l5 per cent. The bran is, therefore,
fourfold more nutricious than flour, or being
but one.tourth as heavy as -four, it has in
fact as much real value, as a food, as
flour itself. Wheat -four from the mill
consists mainly of starch, the blood. .fesh-and-
bone forming materials or elements Of the
grain are rejected in the bran because of the
ignorant opinions Of other generations.
According to this high authority wheat
bran constitutes a decidedly important ar
ticle Of food, whether for man or beast.
1t is a well established fact that bran
is more easily digested than -four, but
this does not prove that it is a healthier
bread. Such facts as these are apt to
be too lightly regarded, but they are en-
titled to the confidence of the people, be-
cause chemistry has now advanced so far
that the primary life.sustaining elements
of all food are as well known as any kind
Of facts. Farmers should note these facts
and make experiments in the manner of
preparing bran as food for stock. The
fact that most animals are fond of wheat
bran is pretty good evidence of its value.
The instincts which nature plants in ami.
mails are almost uuerring Stock
Record.
Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1876-09-01
W Western Farming.

1t occurs to me that a few thoughts con-
oerning farming in the West may serve q
good turn to many readers of the Rural who
are coming from the East--at least l am
positive that my accumulated experience
would have benefited me materially could l
have had it earlier.
A largo proportion of those who come to
open up farms are men who have had little
or no experience in farming previously, and
they generally succeed the best, for they
have no theories-adapted only to some
other latitude that must be thrown over
board.
The great mistake is to suppose that the
road to success can best be travorsed with a
plow. If one desires to make grain raising
the business Of his life, he can scarcely do
worse than to come here. We cannot com.
pete with some other States in producing
wheat, or even corn, and yet very fair mixed
crops are raised. 1t does not pay to raise
grain to ship. Wheat should be raised sim
ply for home consumption. Corn should
only be sent to market changed into hogs,
cattle and wool. Where the deer and ante
lope love to dwell, sheep are raised with care.
Where vast herds Of bisons have fed, our
native cattle thrive.
The greatest curse to the Nebraska far
mer to-day is a superabundance of first-class
farm machinery purchased son time" If
the capital locked up in headers, harvesters,
grain drills, etc., were in sheep, we could
soon laugh at the locusts. 1t will pay to
ship wool, it will pay doubly well not to
ship it, but manufacture goods at home.
Streams of water are waiting to set a million
spindles humming and the operatives will
help to consume our surplus grains.
1t is fact that cannot account for that
cattle, other than Texas, command a price
almost equal to that price in Michigan,
while the cost of production is comparatively
nothing. Look at this ? A good quality of
hay can be had for the cutting. During the
six months that crops are in the way, viz,
from May to October inclusive, stock is
herded from one dollar per head, the owner
being relieved of all care Of them, even
to the giving of salt.-R. II. Crane "a,
Rural NeU Yorker.
Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1876-09-01

The power, with tho improvements, are the result
Of thirty years hard study, Tho propro0rs tho
inventors ever have been and aro tho sole manufao
turors We have laborod from tho first TO produce a
maoline, durable, tasty, compact portable and ono
that will run with less friction. We believe that
manufacture the best machine Of the kind in the
try,
We have received FIRST PREMIUM at Now England
fairs in 1873 1874 and 1875 also lStato Fairs, Vermont
and Maine same years and have repeatedly taken, and
fails 10 take the highest donors at any and every
exhibition whore presented.
What the newspapers say OF us
POuiiRey, Ptj Journai,-"It is the bost machine OF
Its kind In use.
Massaohrsstis Piouohman.-"Pages could DO filled
with many glowing praises Of the Gray machine"
A. u, Williams of Bradford, ~, wrifCss-Ihe ma.
chino bought of you gives entire satisfaction tO all
who have employed H. having threshed tho past season
5000 bushels Of diilerentIkinds Of grain.
HdrreR ShepdTd, CT0wH POiHt N. ", states he made
tho last throshing $500 froe from expense
a. N. Ctark, HhuehaH N, u, states that he made
last thTeshing season free FROM expense 500.
4. ShsAi, cambrdgc, N. " statos he threshod
2,2OO bushels In 81 days,
For Price-List Gud C1rcuIhrs address the
above.
Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1876-09-01

NoN-HEADING CABBAGE.-Last autumn
was mourning over an unusual number Of
half.developed cabbages, which were only fit
to be fed to the cows, and mentioned the
fact to a Duchess County farmer, who is
in business in New York, and has lately
bought farm near US, asking if his crop
had turned out badly. His answer was that
he had no more soft heads than he wanted,
or to the effect that he would feel disappointed
il he had not considerable number. Now
we, neither Of us, raise cabbages for market,
but for our own consumption mainly, and
| was utterly at loss to know what he
could do with quarter of his crop that
failed to make heads. He told me that he
dug wide trench, so deep that after some
top soil was thrown in he could set the cab.
bages out in the trench as close as they could
stand, and their heads would not come up
level with the top Of the ground. When
planted he covers the trench with boards
and some brush, corn.stalks, salt hay, and
earth on the top, keeping it open at the ends
or elsewhere until cold weather, and ther
covering it in close. lie said they would
all have firm, solid heads in the spring.
tried it, and this spring we are enjoying the
best cabbages we ever ate. They are rather
small to be marketable, say four and a hall
to six inches in diameter, solid and sound
crisp aud tender, as delicate as cauliAowers
and what is most remarkable, 1 never know
we are going to have cabbage for dinner un-
til see it on the table. The great objection
| have to this most wholesome aud deliciou,
vegetable is, that it usually fills the house
with its detestable odor, so to have cabbage
without this drawback is worth all the
trouble it costs,-Cor. American AgricuI
tUriSt.
Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1876-09-01

SUNFLowERs.-Thcy are rich in honey,
and are consequently good neighbors for
bees. Oil, hardly to be distinguished from
olive oil by any but an expert, may be ex-
tracted from the seeds, in the proportion of
one gallon to one bushel, One acre will
produce something like fifty bushels of seed,
The seeds, too, make food not unpalatablo
for human beings, and very good for ami
mails and poultry. The Portuguese and
the American Indians make a kind of fbread
from them and use as a substitute for cof-
fee. The stalks may be used as bean poles
while growing. Dry, they make passable
roofs for sheds and the like, and burn rap
idly on the hearth. The ashes are very
rich in potash. Altogether, it IS very
useful plant and to crown all, it has a
reputation which scientists have never dis
proved, for absorbing malaria, and acting
as an effectual screen against the scourge OF
the low-lyng district fever.-Ex.
Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1876-09-01
The Charles Downing Strawberry.

Mr.. George W. Campbell Of Delaware
o. writes to the Ohio farmer that the
Charles Downing strawberry, which was
produced by the late John S. Downer, Of
Kentucky, has been apparently increasing in
favor in all parts Of the country, and per-
haps bids tairest to rival or supersedo the
Wilson, or any variety yet introduced. |
have grown it for eight or nine years, and
find it, for home use, the most satisfactory
of any variety have ever grown. In quail
ity it is not quite first rate but much supe-
rior to the Wilson. 1t is equally vigorous
aud healthy in growth, and the fruit uni
iormly of larger size, continuing large
throughout the season. think the Charles
Downing is fully as productive as the Wilson
on fertile clay soils, and has the advantage
OF not deteriorating, or "running OUT after
the 6rst or second year of bearing, like the
Wilson. have found beds that we're kept
in good condition, and reasonably free from
weeds, still bearing well and proftably, FIVE
or six years after setting. While the Wilson
bears most heavily the year after planting,
| think the Downing and many other kinds
give even better crops in succeeding years,
than at the first; apparently reaching per-
feet development more slowly, and also con.
tinuing longer in state of vigorous fruit.
fulness. The principal faults Of the Down
ing strawberry for market fruit, are irreg.
ularity in coloring, and want Of firmuess for
distant shipment. In reference to the former,
have found that the side exposed to the
sun does color while the rest Of the berry is
nearly white; but another day upon the
vine remedies this, and little care and prac.
tice in picking, soon renders it difficulty of
little moment As to frmness, though not
as solid as the Wilson, it is sufficiently so for
home use and nearby markets. and its larger
size and finer quality should command a
better price from discriminating customers