Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-07-02
Letter from Rev. j. Copeland.

WEBSTER, N. Y, June %, 1879.
Messrs Editors Our summer has been slow
in arriving, but we are now in the midst of 1t and
are able to form some judgment OF what 1t will
bring forth. The spring was cold and back award
and very unpromising to farmers. Until late in
the season very little rain FELL and both the grain
and grass suffered for want OF It, The former
now looks more promising than anticipated.
Wheat, on rolling land Is looking finely; that on
Hat land was winter-killed to large extent.
Grass will yield fair crop. Corn is backward.
The season has been too cold to bring 1t forward.
Much of it was not planted till after the middle
OF June, but II the present warm weather con-
tinues it will come forward rapidly, For more
than a week past the mercury has been up to-
about ninety degrees daily, sometimes it has
reached higher figure. The berry crop is album,
dant Strawberries are sold in the city at an av-
erage of four cents per quart. As a cent and a
half per quart is paid for picking, the profit to
the producer is small. Some patches about us
yield from four to five hundred quarts daily.
very large amount OF fruit trees was shipped from
this place during the spring. Prices were very
low but the trees were on hand and must be sold
The best quality of apple trees brought only FIVE
dollars per hundred. Other kinds are at equally
low rates.
Our entire community has been deeply inter
ested In two families that were brought down
with richina-the disease that comes from eat
ing raw ham. family procured sugar-cured
ham in the city OF grocer who is noted for sell
ing meat OF superior quality. 1t was brought
home and at a social gathering soon after it was
brought upon the table sliced in the form OF dried
beef In due time all who partook of 1t were
taken sick-three in one family, two in another.
One Of the latter died before it was discovered
what the disease was. An examination revealed
Its nature Since that in the other family, two
persons, the mother and daughter have died. A
young lad remains confined to the bed upon
which he has lain for nearly three months most
OF the time so rigid as to be unable to move, and
now is only able To turn himself with extreme
difficulty. There Is fair prospect Of his recoy-
cry. The woman in the other house is able to
move around little and will probably recover.
| These cases have had a decided effect on the sale
OF pork In this vicinity The disease Is one of in
describable suffering, and horrible to contem-
plate.
Our railroad, the Lake Shore division Of the
WATERFOWL and Ogdensburg 1t is said, is about to
change hands, or come under control OF different
parties, 1t Is to form part Of a through line
FROM New York by way of the Midland road. A
bridge is to be built across the Niagara river al
Lewiston, then six or seven miles of road will
form connection with the Great Western In
Canada or the Grand Trunk, aud n through route
will be opened 10 the West. The distance iron
the bridge To New York, 1t IL claimed, will u
, over hundred miles shorter than by the Central
Haying has commenced in this neighborhood
! and the wheat harvest will soon be on hand. Thi
Is not the fruit year, but fair crop 10 promised.