Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1877-10-06

Selecting Seed.
We know from actual experiment, no
80 only that any given variety OF grain ma,
be brought to high standard Of excel
lence, but this attained, care must b.
used in keeping the standard good, els'
1t will degenerate in far less time thar
was required TO bring II up. The mean
10 be used to breed up grain or othel
vegetable products Of tho farm, are pre-
oisely those used by the breeders Of ani
mails. That Is, careful selection, and
breeding to type. This, and attention
in selecting only thoroughly ripened
seed, with good cultivation, will in few
years increase the yieldo any farm from
90 to 100 per cent.
From our experience, We know, that
one OF the great disabilities in the germ
ination OF seed corn, is, the practice OF
many otherwise good farmers, who &C.
lect their seed from the field as soon as
the grains are glazed, trace it up, and
use this for seed. II is true, this will
tend to earlier ripening, but at the sure
expense of both quantity and quality.
The same is true of our cereal grains
generally, and of every other product Of
the farm. From this we see the neces-
sity of examining, not only into the per-
feet development of the seed, M regards
quality, but also that the seed be per.
fectly ripe.
Let us take case in point: A farmer,
we'll known for his care in the selection
Of his seed, made it practice to set
apart, each year, certain portion OF his
fields for tho raising Of seed. Upon
these seed-plants none but the most Sc
lect seed was used, and of given quail
ity. The best cultivation was given,
without regard to cost, and the product
of these seod-plants was used for tho
general crops, the top or extra grain
being carefully sorted each year, to be
again sown for future seed. Thus he al
ways had none but the best and most ma
ture seed for sowing, and always obtained
an extra price from others for seed from his
fields. But his own selected seed from
these plants could not be bought at any
price. Any farmer may do this, and if
all would do so, the careful cultivation re-
quired in these cases would soon educate
the individual to more refulcultivation
in his general crops, intended for market.
1t will pay !-Prairie Farmer.
Raising ind Curing Corn Fodder.
I take the stubble ground-sod pre-
ferred, should the sod be well pulverized
pillow and harrow it thoroughly, furrow
three feet wide with n two-horse pillow,
drop in drills about two and half bush
els of corn per acre. If the surface is
smooth, I use scraper made of two
inch plank seven or eight feet long with
a pole for two horses; I ride on the
scraper and first drive lengthwise with
the furrow, then cross, and there will be
but few grains not covered. Ihave COW
cred four acres in half day in this way,
and it came up well. When nicely up,
I run cultivator through; then pillow,
with two burrows thrown towards each
row when the corn is about one foot
high. The corn should be planted early,
80 that it may get its growth before frost.
1 prefer to let it cure somewhat stand
ing; use, to set up the stalks with, q
wooden horse made of pole ten or
twelve feet long and two legs (high |
enough to suit the height of stalks) in
serted close to the large end of the pole,
and transverse stick put in loosely some
three feet from the head end. Now place
the stalks in the corners, set the stouts
up large, some four or five feet in di-
ameter on the ground, tie stalk or straw
band around near the top of the stout,
then draw the horse out for another stout.
Let stand for week or ten days, then
two men, with two cornstalks each, tie at |
the same time. I one year harvested, I
think, about forty tons of corn fodder,
and I did not lose 100 pounds. l hauled
the last on election day, and piled it in
the NOW like hay. 1t requires two men
to pitch on the wagon, with long and a
fork. The secret of my
successful curing is, to never tie bun
die of green corn with band, as it is
sure to mold. The wooden horse leaves
a space in every stout for the air to Cir
culate through, and causes the stalks to
dry much faster.-Henry c. Crapsen,
Greene Co., N. Y
ROup in Fowls.
"Subscriber writes ct have few
chickens of very valuable breed, but
they are afflicted with disease which I
do not understand. They have rum
ming at the nostrils and a rattling in the
throat, and have difficulty in breathing,
and are very small and sickly. Ii you
can give a remedy you will much
oblige."
Reply.-The disease is known as roup,
which is inflammation of the throat and
nasal membranes. The fowls must have
been kept in damp or unclean place,
or have been exposed to cold. The
remedy is to wash the head with
warm vinegar with a sponge, squeezing
some of it into the nostrils then apply
q lotion of clean rain water with chloride
of zinc dissolved in it at the rate of ten
grains Of the zinc to one tablespoonful
of water, injecting some into the nos
trils. Give for feed scalded oatmeal with
one teaspoonful of cayenne pepper to the
quart of meal, and feed it warm. Also
give pinch of copperas for dozen
fowls in the drinking water daily. Pre-
vention consists in keeping the fowls
dry, clean, and not too warm.
The Autumn Mosquito.