Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1876-12-02
FARM, GARDEN AND HOUSEHOLD.


FARM harden AND HOUSEHOLD.
Facts for sheep brewers.
w. II. Backus, Snyder county, Pa.
who has farm OF three hundred acres
hill lands, thin gravel soil, in centra
Pennsylvania, wrote to the American
farmers club, inquiring how many sheer
he could keep upon it and what kline
would DO best adapted to the climat,
and soil; also, II sheep raising will pay
him, and which Is the best work OF
sheep culture.
This letter was referred to an absent
member, who sent in the following TO
ply. "No man can answer intelligent
ly how many sheep can DO kept on such
land until he ia informed as to the bur
den OF grass produced annually. Some
sandy and billy land is 80 poor that
twenty sheep would scarcely live on the
vegetation to be found on one hundred
acres. Any Of the popular breeds oil
sheep will thrive satisfactorily in that
climate. Rindal!'s Treatise on Sheep,
which can DO obtained at most book
stores in large cities. was recommend.
ed"
In an informal talk which followed,
these additional facts were elected :
The best sheep for farmer to keep in
any climate are those which yield the
heaviest fleeces and the greatest numbt r
OF pounds OF meat, even though the first
cost is much greater. Fine sheep that
produce largely do not eat any more
than scrub, and pay for that in wool
and flesh OF superior quality as well as
quantity. Merinos, for instance, some
times gain as high as twenty pounds per
head, and rarely fall lower than ten,
while the scrub sheep is doing well if a
yield of six pounds instead of three is
gained. Thoroughbred Cotswolds pro-
duce even more. For fine mutton the
Southdowns stand first, though the
fleece is only medium. The Shropshire
downs are counted by many next for
meat, and next to Cotswolds for wool.
Regarding the feeding of sheep, it is
quite commonly agreed that lambs should
be fed early, and that it is wonderfully
against the grazier if he allowed them
to lose their lamb fat; a small quantity
of oil cake should be used to keep them
in growing state.
Sheep are too often undervalued as a
means of keeping up the fertility of the
soil. They give back to the farm more
in proportion to what they take from it
tnan any other animal. They are also
the best OF farm scavengers, keeping
the fields over which they range cleaner
than any other class of stock. In pas.
turing sheep with cattle it is best to
make an exception in the case of mich
COWS, as sheep invariably pick out the
best and finest of grasses, leaving those
that are coarse and less nutritious.
Mich COWS that are pastured with large
numbers Of sheep are liable to yield less
milk and of poorer quality than when
pastured away from them.
Far,ners' Club Questions.
At what age should apple trees be
transplanted
Apple trees for transplanting to orch
ards should be at least two years bud.
ded, and six or seven feet high, and they
should have proper balance of head
and side branches.
What apples are best for cider'
Cider apples are varieties frequently
useless for any other purpose. The best
for this purpose are rather tough, pi
quaint and astringent; they are generally
great bearers. The Harrison, Red
Streak and Virginia crab are good cider
apples.
How prepare the soil for transplanting
trees2
The best fertilizers that can be used
in preparing the soil for transplaptipg |
trees is compost of thirds mulch |
or black peat earth, reduced by ferment-
ing it several months in heap with one
third barnyard manure. This is more
lasting in its effects and less drying than
the common manure of the stable.
What is test of properly ripened
cheese2
When well ripened, cheese, if press.
ed, will retain the indenture; or, if cut,
will remain soft and oily on the exposed
surface long time; on the contrary, if
not well seasoned when pressed. it will
show elasticity, and, if cut, will dry
readily.
How does orange rust show itself on
and what is it2
Mr.. Riley, the entomologist, says that
The orange rust on the leaves is the last
or spore bearing stage of the fungus,
which had in another form vitiated the
tissues of the whole plant. The spores,
in the form of the orange powder, ger
upon healthy plant produce
IN unseen fungus which poisons the
plant and causes the pale, spindling, I'M
healthy growth of the following year,
which is the invariable precursor of the
orange rust.
How can clover seed be cleaned9
Just as wheat is, in q tanning mill.
New Recipes.
PLUM PuDDINa.-Raisins, two and
me half pounds, currants, two and one
,alf pounds, citron, one pound, blanch-
ID almonds, one pound, suet, one
,ound, -four, one pound, rose water, one
lass, grated rind of three lemons, juice
i one, cinnamon, allspice, cloves-each
NO spoonful, nutmegs, two, mace, one.
alf tablespoonful, milk, one pint, eggs,
welve; boil in bag for five hours; eat
nth hard sauce.
INDIAN PUDDING. quart of milk
nth half pint of Indian meal stirred
nto the milk when it is boiling hot, one
tablespoonful of ginger, one teacupful
I molasses, little salt.
SoTT CUsTARD. a quart of milk
id four or six eggs, two large spoon
Ills Of sugar, little salt; beat the eggs i
nd sugar together; when the milk boils [
our in the eggs and sugar, stirring all
le lime; flavor with grated lemon or {
anilla. ,
CHICKEN SA1AD.-The chicken should |,
Q boiled. To one pair of chickens put
70 large heads of celery. 1t is best to
repare the dressing just before the
Had is to be eaten. Take the yolks of
ght hard boiled eggs and mash the m
, paste; add a small teaspoonful OF
1T; the same of cayenne pepper; half n
i'll OF made mustard; small wine glass;
nd half OF vinegar, and rather more
ian two wine glasses of sweet oil. Mix :
i these ingredients until they are
ute smooth, then pour it over the c
1icken. Q
r