Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1878-06-21
NOTES.

Tho California potato crop, which ha,
been nearly ruined 10y blight for several years,
is reported TO be affected this year worse than
ever.
A new kind Of potato bug hns made its
appearance In Michigan. and the farmers pre-
dict greater destruction from 1t than from the
more notorious Colorado beetle.
A corporation has been formed in Port
land for the manufacture of beet sugar, and
the sugar beet is to hc planted on u large
number Of farms ia that vicinity
The old debating club question is settled
A court IN WATERFOWL, y. T., has decided in
practical case that the hen that matches thc
eggs is the mother Of the chickens. TO the
prejudice Of the hen that lays the eggs.
They have sowtd $3.50 acres of wheat and
200 of oats. have planted 100 of corn and
will have 100 acres of timothy on a farm at
Tnopi. Mimi, on which 20 span of horses
and four yoke of oxen ARE owned and used.
indianapolis reports "a strange epidemic
among the cattle. which die IN few hours
after eating white clover covered with dew
from the gas it forms in their stomachs
which penetrates to all parts of their bodies
The remedy is AS strange rs the disease and
consists in thrusting u knife in the sides of
the afflicted cattle. Just behind the shoulder
blades, which releases the gas and brings in-
slant relief
1t cannot be too strongly impressed upon
the raisers of market poultry that large framed
birds cannot be expected if the chickens are
not well fed from the very first day they
leave the nest. 1t is not enough to put the
hen and newly -hatFhod brood under coop,
and throw them some grain two or three times
a day. Such treatment alone will never make
large birds.
Small seeds should be only lightly cover
ed with fine earth. To prevent driving and
ensure "A rapid termination. sprinkle with wat
ter and cover with newspaper for "a few
days, and the seeds if good will nearly all ger
inmate. Flower seeds and other small seeds
by this treatment viii give very little trouble
about coming up. Cucumbers and melons
and the like will come up much quicker when
treated in this way.
The culture of melons is one of the most
general of gardening occupations in Spain
and, although poor and rich alike nearly live
on the cooling fruit during the hot season.
yet many tons of fruit are cut mp before they
attain perfect maturity, and are hung up for
winter use. An acre of irrigated hand pro
duces about five tons of fruit. worth about
| $50.
After the foliage of tulips dies away the
bulbs should he carefully taken up and kept
dry until autumn. The tulip, however, does
well IA border flower. and if left undisturb-
| ed will come up and bloom year after year
while the flowers although they soon lose
/ any value as florists flowers. are nevertheless
very snowy and ornamental
Attention has been drawn to IL practice
| prevalent III some parts of the country. which
! appears to illustrate the power possessed by
milk of absorbing atmosphere impurities, II
| is that of placing II saucer or pan of new
milk III "A larder. to preserve meat or game
| from faint. 1t is said that not only docs it
answer that purpose. but that the milk after
| few hours, becomes so bad that no animal
will touch it,
California hogs are small but those which
are fed grain are hard teshed and well suited
| for curing purposes. The Chinese portion of
San Franchises population are said to con-
sumo, AS fresh pork, the most of the acorn
fed or soft hogs which are marketed there.
The average gross weight of hogs slaughter
ed in San Francisco was lGi pounds in 1871.
Isl pounds III 1876, lji pound, IN 1870. and
IA pounds III 1874.
The outfit of a Texan hcrder consist, OF
two donkeys for carrying supplies a tent
cooking utensils canteeu made of tin and
with a capacity for holding five gallons OF
water, a small Mexican pony, two OF three
| dogs and tobacco. Two men and three dog
can readily take care Of 5000 sheep Thou.
sands of these animals roam at will over III,
vast plains feeding rs they 20 along ant
never stopping two nights Ill the same spot
| When the evening comes these immense herd,
gather closely around the shepherds CAM
and sleep peacefully, guarded by well-raineG
Scotch dogs. An area of from ten to twenty
miles will be grazed by an ordinary herd in ,
single day.