davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-03-06

they have not been accepted. In fact, the envel.
oPes containing them have not been opened as no
1 II business was attended to at the White
House to-day, but they will be To- morrow,
AS soon as the new chief magistrate had reached
tne White House an immense crowd congregated
on the portico hoping there would be 3 general
ceptinn. In this they were disappointed, though
many were admitted during the afternoon, and
Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1877-03-23
Agricultural Education.

In an article in the Green Mountain Free.
man of February 14th under the head of
"The Agricultural College, etc." person
who signs himself Peter" says "Iu the
first place. we hear the common remark that
farmers are entitled to farm schools Just as
much as lawyers aud doctors are to law and
medicinal schools, which is giving the whole
matter basis of bOsh." lie then goes on
to say some very fine things about "agricul.
ture being first and always the great vital
avocation Of civilized man, and is no more
to be classed with the learned professions
than the air we breathe is to be likened to
Illuminating gas;" also "that the ground
for erecting an agricultural college is not
that particular line Of study is necessary to
enable man to become farmer, but that
their Importance to society entities farmers
to have exactly such schools as will best fit
them for their work" That "merchauts,
mechanics, or almost any othcr class Of men
stand in much more need Of special education
than the farmers" And fnally he points
triumphantly to where all necessary knowl-
edge can be obtained on any subject connect
ed with farming, as follows To-day far
mers having something more than a common
school education are by no means uncommon
and college bred men not unknown, while
we are continually seeing letters published,
of practical nature, from actual tillers OF
the soil, showing habits of close observation
and reasoning, such as were but yesterday
confined to purely scientific men, aud hand
ful of the horny handed arc going about the
state as board of agriculture And we
have books, innumerable and some dozens of
able and elaborate periodicals devoted ex-
clusively to farm interests !" aud besides this
"the bene6cent newspaper gives pretty much
everything extant in the line Of practical
suggestions in cheap and convenient form"
Now, in the first place, l would like to
ask Mr.. "Peter" why il is all "bosh" to
claim that "farmers are entitled to farm
schools as much as lawyers and doctors are
to law aud medicine sohoolsH ?" Is it not
equally as necessary to the success of the
farmer that he should know the necessary
conditions aud requirements to raise and Sc.
cure frst-class crop as it is for the lawyer
to know the rulessof admissability of evil
deucc, or the legal qualifications of jurors 2
Aud is it not as essential that the man who
is striving to improve some breed OF domes.
tic animals should understand something Of
the anatomy, physiology and hygiene of
Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1877-03-23
ST. JOHNsBURY. FRIDAY, MARCH 28. 1877.

ammonia or soluble phosphoric acid doubt
much whether you can sell him that stuff.
But not only has this work Of the board
driven out Of our markets worthless brands
it has in some way been instrumental 10
causing great improvement in those stand.
ard brands which were always good, but
have come to be better than before. In
deed, since the board Of agriculture under.
took this supervision, it will bo seen by
comparison Of results, that the quality Of
those fertilizers sold in Vermont has i'm.
proved fully 33A per cent. while there has
been no increase in price. Let those who,
actuated by sound principle OF economy,
think they subserve the best interests OF this
state in voting to do away with this board
Of agriculture, fairly consider the value of
this feature Of the labors Of the board, and
then decide whether it would be true econ
omy to put an end to such labors.
Let those who doubt the mo ney value of
the work which has been done by the dairy
mems association and the board of agricul.
ture the past seven or eight years inquire of
the large dealers in butter and cheese as to
the relative quality of these most important
agricultural products at present as com.
pared with their quality in 1870, and then
let them consider whether these great
agencies for good should be permitted to Ian.
guish for want of funds. Certain il is that
whoever investigates the matter will conclude
that neither the board of agriculture nor the
dairymen's association can fairly be charged
with asking JaDorS when they come for aid
before the legislation of state which by
their labors they have so abundantly en-.
riched.
The board of agriculture proposes to con-
tinue this supervision of the several fertil-
izers for sale in the state, and it is to be
hoped that farmers may await the statement
of Prof. Seoly before laying in their supply,
and that dealers may find it for their true
interest to obtain the best the market affords.
| have no doubt but that the secretary Of
the board Of agriculture would be very glad
to obtain extra copies of the early reports
Of the board, which, it was SO confidently
predicted by some of our legislators, would
go to the waste basket, for hardly a week
passes but that application for them comes
not alone from every portion of our own
state, but from every part Of the union.
PETER COLLIER.
Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1877-03-23

no fears but my dairy room will be quite
cool enough, when the mercury gets up to
1OOe, in fact, l expect to have to burn from
Is to 20 pounds of wood per day, even in
the hottest weather. The heating and venti.
lating apparatus is so perfectly arranged,
that the time required in caring for both,
is not to exceed FIVE minutes in twenty -four
hours.
1t is common remark of the many who
have visited my dairy that, 1T is very
strange that no one ever thought oil this sim.
pie way of tempering, drying, and purifying
air before" 1t seems to be specially adapted
to supplying the requirements Of men Of other
vocatious. The last time | saw Prof. w.
he was preparing plans for fruit house to
be built it New York and several houses for
storing butter in tho north west. His
charges are moderate, and have found
everything just as he told me It was.
| have neighbor who has a productive
farm aud he desired to build milk house
similar to mine, but the poor fellow has re.
Gently lost the sight of one of his eyes en-
trely, and the other is failing rapidly. l
took Prof. w. to see him aud he made him
a present Of right to use his patented de.
vices and plans and specifications from which
to build dairy.
Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1877-03-23

time to analyzc few simple plants, at least
with such help as may be found in almost
every community. The progress made will
be slow at first but, with a little perseveranc cs
one may gain 10 few years time, and with.
out neglecting other duties as good knowl.
edge Of this science as is possessed by the
average graduate Of our colleges. After this
it either learns more Of the subject il is done
by careful study and observation with a
love for it. The same may be done with
other studies, and if every farmer at all in.
clined to study would select some branch and
find out all hO could about It we should soon
see great improvement among us. This
would certainly be much better than the way
in which some farmers spend their spare mo-
ments either at the tavern, or store or even
in some kinds of reading EA.F.
WatSfegd, March, 1877
Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1877-03-23
Winter Fences.

FRIEND HIBBARD 81 was pleased at the
hit you gave the legislature for the law
passed at the last session authorizing towns
to construct high fences to protect highways
from snow-driits in winter.
1t is true that high fences are not wanted
They are costly, insecure, aud insufficient for
the purpose. If they had said movable
fences they would have hit it, But that is
as near as we expect legislative body to
come.
Now suggest that the selectmen of towns
take the responsibility to cOnstrue that law
so as to make it of practical value. In
places where tho necessary fences cause
drifts which are shoveled out at great ex-
pensc nearly every winter let them construct
fences, "hish" as they please, but movable.
Let each post have two strong hooks in the
shape of right angle, long enough to pro.
jeet two inches after they are driven firmly
into the posts, Then let each length of
lence nave two upright pieces or inch
by inches, of sound stuff, nailed on firmly
foot, or little less, from the ends. These
lengths eau be taken off and piled up in the
fall aud replaced in spring With little labor
If unruly cattle are likely to lift them of,
a wooden pin can be put in each post over
the boards, loosely so that it can be with.
drawn readily. Such fence as this will,
in many places pay for itself in two winters
O. Horace HUBBARD,
Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1877-03-23
An Old Friend in New Place.

FRIEND HIBBARD.-The weekly reading
OF the FARMER gives me great pleasure,
more, | assure you, than when was in the
editorial chair. was surprised and pleased
recently to receive a letter from our old
friend and correspondent, j. G. McKeen,
who is such good authority on poultry mat
ters, announcing that he had moved to Pc.
terbOrough to take charge of the poultry
and pigeons of Mr.. g. L. l.. Hayward ol
that place. With fifty varieties of hens
seven each of turkeys and geese, and thir.
teen of ducks, besides Pea and Guinea fowls
and seventy.6ve varieties Of pigeons to take
care Of feed and lead out to water, pack
eggs and box fowls sold, and to maintain
peace and harmony and prevent miscigination
in all this family Of feathered songsters, be.
sides attending to the correspondence much
of the time when Mr.. II. is absent, will
keep him rather busy, should think. But
it is work that he will enjoy.
That Mr.. II. is good farmer as we'll as
successful breeder of poultry and pet
stock is shown by the fact that he sold all
the butter made (by Hardln's method) from
his herd of twenty COWS, last season, for 46
cts per pound, and won two Thousand dollars
in prizes at seven poultry shows.
There is no stock that pays better in
come on capital and labor than well man
aged poultry, and none that runs down and
eats its own head off quicker than the same
neglected.
Springfield. y. HORACE HUBBARD.
Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1877-03-23
Commercial Fertilizers.

1t is to be regretted that another session
OF our legislature has passed without the
enactment Of some law to protect our farm
ers in relation to the sale of fertilizers. In
nea:ly every state in which products are
sold to any great extent, laws have been
enacted which have protected the purchaser
against fraud, and have rapidly brought the
trade in these fertilizers within the limits of
legitimate business.
10 securing such legislation, it is pleas
ant to be able to say that none have been more
earnest than those extensive manufacturers
Of thoroughly reliable brands who were wise
enough to see that the whole business was
coming to be regarded with suspicious be-
cause so many unprinciplod persons, tempted
by the promise of great gain and conscious
that though detected they would 60 uupun-
ishOd, had flooded the markets with worth.
less stuff, which to the common observer ap-
peared to be what it was advertised fer
tiLizer.
The Vermont state board of agriculture
has from the first given this matter Oonsid.
cradle attention, aud although with no pow.
er to punish such cases Of fraud as were de-
tected, they have at least the satisfaction Of
knowing that by calling the atteneiOn Of our
farmers to these frauds, they have literally
driven many Of them from our markets, aud
have helped to establish this important bus.
iness upon an intelligent basis. Who hears
nowadays of that Grafton What is i;2 OIL
that Stevens Fertilizer. SO i,spaluaJle 70,
POultices2 l presume that no Vermont far
er who has attended any Of the meetings Of
the board this past winter, or who has read
either Of their valuable reports is in any
doubt what he is after when he buys fer.
tilizer, and unless he receives some assurance
] that tho article offered him contains potash
Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1877-03-23
Corrfspnudtuft.

FATrENING LAMDs,--April lambs will fat.
ten the following winter and give good re-
turn for raising. At weaving time they
should be turned into good feed, clover
aftermath is best, and receive few oats
daily. Thus fed they will grow and take
on some fat before coming to the barn. which
is quite important, for il is hard to fatten a
weak lamb on grain, and il Is best to dispose
Of all such at once. Good early cut hay is
necessary, and it should be fed literally.
The rack should be cleaned out daily, and
all hay left be given to other stock. In
crease the grain, adding corn gradually until
you feed one half corn. Watch them care.
fully, and do not overfeed there is more
danger Of Overlooking lambs than there is
in not feeding. Too much grain is a posi-
tive injury. A pint Of oats and corn per
day is about as much as is profitable to feed
mcriuO lamb weighing less than so pounds,
if your hay is good, and without good hay
you cannot fatten lambs successfully.
j. r. WALKER.
Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1877-03-23
Economical Farming.

How can we EcOnomiEe in Farming, and
what do we Understand by Farm EoOn-
Omyi
Economy may be defined as management
without loss or waste, or the system by which
any business is carried on or executed. In
the first place, system is necessary to secure
farm economy. 1t is an absolute necessity /;
it Is more essential to the agriculturist than
to almost any one else, as the farmer is, in
all departments, dependent on the weather
to perform his operations, and his plans for
the day are often interrupted or delayed.
Unless he makes calculations for unpleasant
weather his plans are often left unfinished.
lie should, therefore, have system and fol-
low it, laying out work for rainy days so
that his hands may be constantly employed.
To follow out a system in farming is more
difficult than in most kinds of business the
farmer, in order to be a successful one, must
be able to do many different kinds of work,
while mechanic has comparatively much
fewer.
Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1877-03-23

those animals, as il is for the doctor TO un
derstand these same in relation to his pa,
tientsf And If il is not equally a matter oI
convenience to have schools TO teach these, in
the one case as in the other
Next, he asserts that almost everybody
else stands 10 much more need of a special
education than the farmers; aud bis only
argument to prove il is that there are
great many ignorant farmers. This l sup.
pose he deems reason enough for not needing
any agricultural schools. If ignorant men
can get living by farming what is the need
of education . He also regards il as almost
wonderful that "actual tillers of the soil'
should "show habits of close observation and
reasoning, such as we're but yesterday con.
fined to purely scientific men )" and that the
board Of agriculture should be composed Of
farmers. But we do not need farmers schools
fpf VIC have got "books and able and elabo.
rate periodicals. devoted to farm interests. "
And then there is the "beue6cent newspaper
which tells us everything, pretty much, for
most nothing; why how absurd to ask for
anything more But wait minute, let us
see how the rule will apply to other profess
sions. Take medicine for instance. Have
wo not got books upon this Yes, few
thousand medical almanacs that will tell you
how to cure every disease that man ever
thought of and perhaps some more. And
they are so cheap too--in fact they cost
nothing and there are those recipe books too,
also given away-and still more than all this
the newspapers are full to overAowiug Of in
formation to the sick and afflicted as to how
they can be made wcll-how very absurd to
to have medical schools then.
The whole piece Aavors of the idea that
the farmer is, aud should be, simply hew-
er of wood aud drawer of water, and that
now he has all the facilities he needs for ed
ucaton, and that there is no call in his pro.
fssson to "comc up higher" But he is but
one of many who lately arc becoming almost
alarmed at the audacity of the agricultural
class. Why, when they begin to say that
they have some interest and rights in regard
to the management of railroads they are told;
"they can raise good potatoes and make first
rate butter, but they know nothing of rail-
reading" and therefore must not complain if
tariffs are high for them and low for their
western neigh bors, and the like. And when
the gran gers conclude to attend caucuses and
other primary political meetings they are
denounced as meddling with that which is
none of their business and are calmly told by
Mr.. Wireworker that it is his and his asso.
ciates, "(a few of us) who claim the ri ght to
mold public opinion" and make all the nom.
nations for offices of trust and honor. And
when they come to the agricultural college
question of course they would say, 1--WE have
plenty of colleges now--no need of any more
schools" ETC., etc. Farmers are not capable
of doing their own thinking get and there
fore do not know what they want. B.
Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1877-03-23

CATTLE IN COLoRADO. The rapid growth
OF the live stock business in Colorado may
be understood from the following statement,
made by j. M. Wilson, president Of the Col
orado cattle growers association, at their
sixth annual meeting, recently held at Dem
yer "During the past year large herds OF
cattle have been driven into the country from
Texas and elsewhere-not less than two
hundred thousand having been driven from
Texas alone. The great country lying to
the east of us, which but two years ago was
grazed by nothing but buffalo, is now occu-
pied by thousands ofhead Of cattle. Beaver
Greek, the South Platte Republican and all
their tributaries, which were looked upon as
being out Of the world aud only fit for In
dians and wild animals, are now all occupied
by herds Of cattle. This year the herds Of
Colorado and Kansas will mingle, aud the
Great American Desert. which has inter.
vened betwixt US and the states, will be
bridged over by the cattle men, and a con.
tinnal linz of settlements will exist from here
to the Mississippi. The increase in number
and size OF our herds has forced US to occupy
and Craze these lands.-America Aqricul.
turiSt.
Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1877-03-23
Flower Culture upon the Farm.

The love Of flowers aad their cultivation
is said to be an evidence of high state Of
civilization and prove the elements of pro.
gress are at work. One has said :-"Flow-
ers are the steady, impartial friends of all.
They gladden. the sick room, and cheer the
dusty way of the weary traveller" Flowers
by the roadside, as we'll as in the garden,
are therefore desirable But we have a
word to say especially concerning their cul-
tvation in the garden and about the house.
There is no farmer, and hardly any person,
who cannot have bit Of land for ornament
al gardening without being much the poorer
for it. And the attractiveness of the farm
and vegetable garden may be greatly added
to by tastefully placing here and there, q
bed or cluster of flowers. BY cultivating @
aud studying their structure, the farmer is
both improving his intellect and cultivating
one Of the fine arts.
Nothing can make thing moro dear to
memory than when it is associated in reeo-
lection with flowers; and the pleasures of
childhood are greatly enriched by having
been spent among them. Children whose
home has been among flower beds, will as
they grow old, ever revert with pleasant
memories, to the old homestead enveloped in
foliage and flowers.
Stranc as to some it may seem, we be-
lieve with others, that the cultivation of
flowers aids in cultivating the imaginative
and poctical.
Shade trees and flowers, in my judgment,
lend much enchantment and solid value to
the farm; aud to every man who possesses
land, be tho amount what 1t may, we would
say, do all you can to beautify it by the
cultivation Of foliage and flowers at least
do not fail to make room for little flower
bed in the garden. Flowers and vegetables
will agree, and can bo grown successfully
and readily together. Such blending is
certainly attractive, and will be source of
much enjoyment.-Maiae Farmer.
Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1877-03-23
The White Solomon Oats,

Raised pure from seed imported from Liverpool are
believed TO be the most profitable variety for the New
England States and possesses the following merits
They yield large crops of heavy grain from 60 to 50
raised the past season 3j2 bushels They
are not subject 10 mildew rust, and do not lodge
badly They grow several oats in hull, and per-
fectly hardy aud adapted 10 all kinds OF soils.
Many testimonials to the superiority Of these oats
could be given, but not deemed necessary. Refer
ence may he had TO @. Horace Hubbard and IL. II.
Howe, OF Springfield, VI, N. s. Clark, Esq, Of Ran
dolph VT, Hon Levi Bartlett of Warner, N. H., and
the Commissioner OF Agriculture who have tested
them, and know whereof they speak The Vt Farmer
SAYS. ''The testimony In their favor is unanimous"
offer these at the following rates, delivered at
II. r. Station or Express oGice peck, or lbs, 70
cents; half bUshe, l6 lbs, 81 Is bushe or 80
lbs. $500 No charge made for packages OF sacks
Al orders with funds, promptly filled.
JAMES R. WALKER.
Weathersleld, Vt, Fob, |, 1871.
Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1877-03-23

FIRE IN WARREN.-The barns and sheds
on the farm Of Robert Kew, in the town OF
Warren, were burned on Tuesday last, to-
gether with ten COWS and other stock aud
farming utensils Insured for $500, in the
Vermont Mutual. 1t is thought the FIRE
was the work of an ineendiary, as lawsuit
is in progress between Kew and his wife in
regard to the property.