The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1878-03-07
TOPICS FOB THE 3

TOPICS FOR THE FARM.
The Ben Davis Apple.-A correspond
ent from Holmes County, Ohio, writes to
the Country Gentleman concerning this
apple: l wish to say, through your pa
per, a few words in faver of the Ben
Davis apple. For some cause, and l.
cannot tell why, this snowy apple is not
much cultivated in this part of Ohio.
The tree is q strong grower; early
and prolific bearer; fruit, when grown
here, tolerably fair, but only second
rate in quality. I have a few of the
trees growing, but have not tested it.
Some of my acquaintance who have,
say it is not adapted to our soil and eli
mate. From what I have seen and
heard of the Ben Davis apple / was
somewhat prejudieed against it until
last fall; but on seeing it growing on
the rich, alluyial soils Of Western Mis-
souri, and Kansas, my prejudice was en-
tirely removed.
Late last October / left home for the
West. My route was through Southern
Illinois, crossing the Mississippi at st.
Louis, and thence by the Missouri Pa
ciic Railroad to Kansas City. While
passing through Illinois I was surprised
to see in the orchards, especially at that
late season of the year; SO much fruit.
My attention was particularly directed
to a number of trees in most of the or
chards, heavily laden with bright red
apples. l inquired of a gentlemen sit
ting near me, who seemed to be well &C.
quainted with the country, the name of
this attractive apple. He said it was
the Ben Davis, one of the best market
apples grown in the West. Continuing
my journey, without stopping at st.
Louis, I passed through Eastern Mis-
souri, in the night, arriving at Sedalia
about daylight. From Sedalia to Kan
sas City, the trees in the orchards were
very heavily loaded with apples, and
Notwithstanding the great speed at
which the cars were moving, | could
readily distinguish the Ben Davis from
the other varieties of apples.
While in Kansas1 made the ~acquaint-
ance of a number of fruitrgrowers, and
visited several orchards in johnson
County, where / saw growing quite a
number of trees of the Ben Davis, and
was delighted with the appearance of
the fruit, and found it to have better
quality than l had hitherto supposed it
to possess. Most of the gentlemen with
whom l ~conversed about the fruit said
the Ben Davis is the best market apple,
I noticed more trees of Rawle's Janet
growing in Kansas than any other vari
ETY. of apples. After spending a few
days in Kansas, l crossed the Missouri
River and went to Cameron, Missouri
situated on the Hannibal and St. 10
seph Railroad, and about sixty mile:
from the river. It was not until ]
reached this part of Missouri that 1 saw
the Ben Davis apple growing in it
greatest beauty. 1 saw quite young
trees, others fifteen or more years old
with their branches bending to thu
earth under the great weight Of frui
they bore; nearly every apple perfect
and without a speck of any kind upol
them. While in this part of Missouri
l travelled over the counties of Clinton
De Kalb, Davis, Caldwell, Livingston
Grundy, Sullivan and Linn. In al
these counties apples were in abund
ance, and very beautiful, but one NOR
so than the Ben Davis, excepting onl,
the Smokehouse and Rome Beauty; AM
which, j think, were the finest / hav
seen growing anywhere.
Sulphur for SWine.-The practice il
some parts of the West (Iowa espe
cially) of throwing bituminous coal t
y k1o1 c n moor noodo IF dpotnfcfori ~
sulphur. Their liking for it is also
proof that they are not generally in
healthy condition. Too much corn, to-
few roots, a constant confinement t
pasturing wei their own excrement
contaminated water, and foul air genel
!, ated by crowding at night, are certainl
conducive to i'll health.
Pork, even in its best condition-tha
is, when produced by stock kept entirel
healthy from birth to killing time
; the most unhealthy for man, and a
i abomination to a large portion of tn
t worlds population. What must it b
t when made from animals SO CONSTANT
in i'll health as to crave for such food 8
. coal.
Until we follow the example of tn
: Jews, Mahometans and other nation
> who discard swine flesh, we must expee
: to be only what we now are-tranI
mitters of scrofula to our children, eve
; to the third and fourth generation.
doubt if that filthy disease could b
eradicated from pork eaters under tie
generations. If this is conceded, VIII
: does not public opinion demand a mod
of treatment which shall make the lea,
possible Objectionable quality OF TIL
! great staple7
, Farm and Home Brevities.
NINETEEN thousand sheep from on
: county in Texas, alone, are being Craze
7 on the North Platte.