davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-05-14

and dear. we shall rely upon the correct
ness Of the principle here laid down. and
plant for the first time only small potatoes.
II whole large tuber is planted. few Of
the shoots which start first will appro-
PIRATE all the nourishment. and all the
other eyes will be ffuitless. The object
to be secured in the division Of the large
tuber is to give each bud. or eye. nourish-
ment enough to sustain the growth of the
sprout until it forms roots. Good-sized,
well-formed potatoes, cut to single eyes,
are undoubtedly the best.
In cutting, care should be taken to give
each eye as much of the potato rs may be.
To secure the greatest possible results,
each eye may be divided into two or three
pieces. As each eye has several buds
this division can safely be made, if desired
to economic with some rare specimen.
Each potato has stem and a seed end.
The seed end is the farthest from the plant.
This end has more numerous eyes than
the opposite end or elsewhere, and hence
it sprouts first. In an experiment tried
by n New York farmer, ninety-eight out
of one hundred potatoes planted started
from the seed end. The same gentleman
cut seventy potatoes so that no eyes
were visible, and planted them in separate
hills. Half the number produced shoots
and ripened into n crop. Out of eighty
hills planted with pieces without eyes. but
with the skin, thirteen grew, and sprouts
started in every case from the cut surface.
There is one curious fact in the growth
of potatoes. Give the root sufficient heat,
but no light. as in the bottom of barrel,
and new tubers, but no shoots, will grow
out. In this way gardeners sometimes
produce new potatoes in dead of winter.
TO accomplish this, the seed potatoes arc
kept in some cool place to prevent sprout-
ing, and such sprouts as grow out are
broken off. The seed is now placed in
dark boxes, in light soil, at a temperature
of fifty to sixty degrees. In three months
a crop of small potatoes are ready for
use. But more on this subject next time
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-05-14

Seventh; they do not nay" for tho ex-
ira expense is not returned in milk, while
they cost more than cotton-seed meal
which does pay both in milk and butter,
and which also answers the same purpose
usually assigned to roots, with far better
results and with none of the drawbacks
stated above. The meal is not a nuisance
TO keep; is not troublesome to prepare; is
not dirty; is not cold and wasteful. but
warm and economical; is not diluted, but
concentrated and easily digested; and.
furthermore, it returns more than its value
in milk. In addition 10 this, it may also
be said that it requires no cultivation to
bother one when other farm crops demand
attention.
The best statement of beet-growing
can find gives an average yield of 900 to
600 bushels to the acre, costing ten cents
per bushel. This beats my efforts 4" by a
long shot," but accept it as an average
in order. 10 the comparison, to lean as
much as possible to the weaker side
Feeding half bushel per day is an outlay
of five cents per cow-result, little more
milk, certainly not over pint, worth here
four cents which do not pay the cost.
Cotton seed meal costs me two and one
half cents per pound. feed three-fourths
of pound in the morning and the same
at evening, mixed with the same quantity
of ground feed used with the beets or car
rots. Cost of one and one-half pounds,
three and three fourth cents per day-re-
suit. one COW yields an increase of three
quarts another, two and one-half quarts !;
and this is pretty uniform average in
crease. The profit is saving of one and
one-half cents per day in expense and a
gain of from sixteen to twenty cents in
milk. This may be more than milk is
worth elsewhere.
Perhaps l am very poor root grower.
Very well, that would be objection num-
Der eight against roots. l am not the first
writer, however, who has declared beets
have been of no benefit. 1t would be too
cruel to mention the extra value added to
the manure, for then think how harassing
it would be to the authorities who sup
port the use of beets for milch COWS, so
refrain from saying anything about it.
But no more roots for me. Cotton is king.
Middlesex Co., N. j.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-05-14

The following items from the California
Farmer read little like crowding the
season TO us who are busy in getting out
manure, blowing for corn, watching how
the grass may start, and specializing how
our apple trees may blossom after while.
Verify, we have great country:
Our orchardsts tell us the trees are
overloaded and the thinning out process
must be attended to now, to save
the trees from breaking down. Our vine
yards. too, are giving an unusual promise
in their growth, and set for great crop
of grapes and wine presses to Overlooking
The hay cutting season has come again
even now we hear of some places where
hay has been cut-and it may be that was
the cause of the late rains now rain
clouds are about, and haymakers are
making preparations for the coming work
This work to be successful, to make a
profitable crop, the haymake rshould have
the best implements, and cure his hay
green,-that always commands the highest
price.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-05-14

CREAM INSTEAD OF BUrTER.-A house,
wife writing for the New York Tribune
proposes virtually to abolish butter. She
says: 1T would be we'll TO train family
from the outset to regard butter as an incl
dental or luxury, rather than a necessity.
The manufacture of it is one of the hardest
and most time consuming tasks that a
farmer has to perform. Moreover, with
all the work it involves, butter adds less to
the health and sustenance of the family
than would the eating of the cream that
goes into the making of it. Where one
physician advises the eating of butter a
thousand recommend the consumption OF
cream. | think not one will dispute the
statement that of cream and butter eaters
the former enjoy the best digestion. the
best health and have the finest complexion.
Then, why work oneself to death for worse
than naughtP Why not eat milk and
cream instead of turning it into butter?
Good bread is good enough without the
addition ola continent to make it palata-
BILE; and, eaten with sweet cream, what Is
more delicious?"
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-05-14
Roots for Cows in Milk.

We have been firmly of the opinion
that roots had a definite value us a winter
food for stock, tending to promote a
healthy condition of the animal, and n
more perfect assimilation of the other
foods. We still believe it; but that our
readers may hear all sides, we print from
the Rural New Yorker the following
counter blast" by M. Oakley:
No more roots for me. From this time
henceforth | will grow no more of them
for feeding cows in milk. From first to
last my experience is against their emplov.
ment, despite the belief in their merits Of
the agricultural world. They have, in nv
opinion, usurped place which of RIGHT
belongs to another kind of feed for cotton
seed meal has the right to the supreme af.
fections of the dairy public, which roots
have usurped and are striving to maintain.
Here are the counts of Indictment against
them:
First; roots are bother to keep, caus-
ing some expense, much Inconvenience
and sometimes loss. 1t is nuisance to
dig them out of the frozen pits in which
they must be kept, unless one builds
cellar especially for them.
Second; it is an expense of time ALWAYS
and of either muscle or money, or perhaps
of all three combined, to properly prepare
them for feeding.
Third; they are dirty and gritty, iniur-
ing the teeth and feed, and hurtfIl to the
membraneous lining of the stomach
while to cleanse them requires SO much
labor, and it is so disagreeable a iob in
cold weather, as to be q serious obiec.
ton. 1t is generally not attempted.
Fourth; they are SO cold when taken
into the stomach of the cow as to he
wasteful of flesh and milk, because the
chill they occasion requires considerable
vital heat to counterfeit, and certain
amount OF nutriment consequently is lost.
Filth; they are too watery, and though
water is good, too great dilution of the
nutriment in any article of diet is obiec.
tionable, requiring too great an expense of
vital force to separate the little nourisb-
ment it contains, and to cast off the great
amount of worthless matter.
Sixth; l have derived verv little benef;t
from their use. If did not use ground
feed, OF course there might be more profit
in them. but my experience when feeding
half bushel per day of beets or earro,s
is, that there is hardly a perceptible liffsr
ence In the yield of milk. That Isl II has
not increased materially over the weld 7
obtained from the ground feed alone
corn, oats and bran.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-05-14
How Shall We Increase the Profits of the
Dairy2

READ AT THE PAssUMPsIC MEETING BY
STEPHEN HASTINGS.
According to the last census the COWS of
Vermont average only one hundred and
eighteen pounds of butter per cow Now
this seems to me very small average
that there must be II loss. TO keep COW
will cost from twenty to thirty dollars per
year, to pay for the care, the hay she will
eat and the interest on her value. Let us
for n few moments look and see if we
cannot find some of the leakssand thereby
increase our profits. First let me ask you,
are your cows in warm stablep If they
are not, you are feeding the north and
west winds more than you are your COWS,
for no auimal can do we'll which is kept in
II stable with ventlator between each
board. | know we hear u great deal
about good ventilation. but l fear that far
too many lose one half their food in this
way. Neither will it do to turn the cattle
out at sunrise, 60 to the village store, and
let the poor cattle stand and SILVER for the
want of their warm stable; if you do you
will have a crow tax to pay in the spring,
or, if you escape that, it will take all of the
gain in flesh what she has lost by YOUR
want of care. Then you will complain
that she does not do well, when if she,
poor beast, could speak, she would tell
you some unpleasant truths. Begin then
in July and August to have some green,
fresh feed for them-either rowen, mown
oats or sweet corn, and little grain will
do no harm, besides it will improve the
quality of the butter. Keep up this feed
until they dry off in the fall, and you will
find it will make vast difference with
the " old COW the next spring, and all of
the summer. If could feed grain only
part of the year l should say feed in the
fall. so as to have the cattle come to the
barn in good condition for the long, hard
winter Then if they come in by the LIST
of May, they will need but little grain
before good feed in the pastures is ready.
Now wish to Say one word in regard TO
feeding grain; If could have all the
nice, June cut hay, together with sweet
corn, think could ke,p up the flow of
milk with but little grain; but MS cannot
have them, | use grain rs the best and
cheapest substitute.
Roots. if fed during the fall and winter.
will keep the cows in good health, and /
am strongly of the opinion that they will
Increase the milk and butter too; should
prefer boets to turnips as they i'm part no
aste to the butter and nearly as many can
Dc raised from nm acre. If COWS are al
owed TO shrink in their milk in July and
August they will give but small mess in
october and be dry by the LIST of Novem-
,er. II does not pay to feed COW well
hat will 60 dry for four months; in fact,
UGH COW doesn't ply to keep, no matter
low much milk she may give in June and
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-05-14

ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY-Two BUSH
ELS OF Corn TO THE ACRE.-Since you
published the the facts in regard to my
raising 1872 bushels of shelled corn to the
acre, thus spreading the information be-
fore your many thousand readers, have
been overwhelmed with letters from all
sections of the country asking multiple
ity of questions in regard to said crop. AS
| have not the time to spare for answering
all these correspondents in detail, must
ask the privilege of replying through the
columns of the CultiUator, herewith pre-
sentng some of the leading points ofinter-
est:
/. Twenty years before the land had
been used rs field for corn and other
grain.
2. The whole field had been used for
pasturing sheep for the twenty years
subsequent to its early cultivation, while
the acre which produced the remarkable
yield stated in your paper lay on the upper
side of said pasture, where sheep had lain
during the whole period.
3. Originally this land was covered with
very heavy growth of white oak, rock
maple, with some pine and hemlock. The
field had slight pitch to the southeast.
4. The soil is such as is usually demon
mated loan or mould, with some stones,
mostly slate, with few other varieties.
3. The blowing was performed in the
spring, and short time before planting.
g. The seed sown was of the variety
known as Canada twelve rowed, and also
what is termed here in Westminster the
Holden corn, the two kinds being mixed
at time of planting,
7. l am now in possession of few
bushels of each variety, pure, more than |
need for my own use in planting.
8. Have tried each variety by itself,
side by side with the other. The Canada
twelve rowed produced more by ten bush.
els per acre than the Holden corn, though
a mixture of the two gave far better results
and heavier yield than could obtain by
use of either variety separately.-NlM IN
G. Pierce, in american CuItiUator.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-05-14

At public sheep shearing at the farm
of V. Rich Esq, Richville, in April, the
following were among the sheep shorn
George Ii. Halls stock ram, "Ben Wade. y
four years old, weight of carcass 13l
pounds. fleece % pounds. This ram S
fleece last year weighed 30 pounds. IL. S.
Brookins' stock ram. Grip Van Wrinkle
Jr.," two years old, weight of carcass
LOG 81 pounds, fleece q pounds.
In the care and management of the
dairy COW, the milking should be done
with exact regularity. us to time and each
cow MIXED by the same person. and in
the same order from day to day if possible.
No change of mixers or change Of time in
milking should be allowed, except for the
most urgent reasons. Above all, never
allow incorporate dispositioned persons
10 milk. Very slight causes often cause
4 shrinkage in milk which cannot be
brought back.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-05-14
The Milk-ROOm Door,

1t has always been bother to US 10
stop ut the milk-room door, set down our
pail of milk, open the door, take up the
pail, 60 in, set it down again to shut the
door. or try to swing it together with the
foot, and slop the milk perhaps. Well,
we have done with all that, for we have
found and got pair of spring hinges
which will allow the door to open either
way, and then close itself when we have
gone through. The Sabin Manufacturing
Company of Montpelier make them, and
we feel that we are doing our dairymen
a favor In letting them know the fact.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-05-14

"SHIPPNG SHEARED SHEEP In tn e
Ploughnsan of the 9TH instant, your CORE
spondent asks 1.-THE opinion of sheep raisers
us to whether or not sheared sheep, stored
between the decks of an ocean steamer,
will at this season of the year suffer on a
sea voyage from the loss of their coats9"
In reply will say that have had occa-
sion to ship sheared sheep across the ocean,
between decks, and found that they went
very comfortably much better than they
would have done in full fleece. Sheep
slowed closely together, with heavy
coat of wool on, become heated, lose their
appetite, and fall off in flesh. while the
sheared sheep will eat vigorously and
gain in flesh rapidly, if properly cared for
have had over twenty-five years eXpe-
rence in shearng sheep early, formerly
commencing about the lst of May; but
have become fully satisfied that April is
the best month in the year to shear in
Vermont. No doubt but that most people
will differ with me on this point; will
think it cruel, that the poor animals will
suffer robbed of their fleece this cold
weather.
But l would not advise early shearng
unleSS one HAS suitable provisions TO make
the animals comfortable; nor would
shear sheep in low flesh, or those that
were sickly for they need their feeces to
keep them warm.
Every thrifty wool-grower has or should
have, sheds, Or stables, that he can close
up in cold nights, that would be warm
enough for sheared sheep in any ordinary
April weather. If after shearing there
should be cold snap" like the first few
days of this month, he can crowd them II
little closer by putting in more sheep; or
some loose boards can be thrown across
the tops of the feeding racks, say three
feet from the ground, or floor, and covered
foot thick with old litter or straw.
By shearing about the 10th of April the
fleece will start rapidly, and by the time
grass is grown enough to turn ont the
sheep will stand all ordinary storms, and
will gain in flesh much faster than if bur.
dened with II heavy fleece.
1t is not economy for sheep breeders to
let their sheep go until near July with
their wool on. 1t is not only an injury TO
the sheep, but u loss to their owners; for
many of them will lose more or less wool
from their legs, belly and sides, by being
scratched and pulled out by briers and
bushes.-GeOrge Campbell, Massachusetts,
| POughmdn.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-05-14

No. 2.
We have said that one method If n,rl,;
plying potatoes is to plant the seed CON-
tanned in the seed ball. Several Of The
most valuable varieties now in cultivation
were produced in this way. They diffar
greatly in size, form, color and lima ~
maturing. but all come from the seed I,,i u
This seed is sown in hot-bed in Fehrn"r,,
or March, and Mt the proper time thy
plants are transferred to open ground A.
the end OF the season the tubers ara NJ
good size and ready for PLANTING or for
use. More varieties of the potato h,va
been produced within the past ten roars
than ever before. '0"'0
The question of planting small or LARGE
potatoes has been much discussed. md
while it must be admitted that there is n
law In Reproduction which has but few
exceptions, that Like produces like" vet
the experience of some of the best farm,
ers IN the country has settled the fact tbat
the small potatoes from COOP crop- nseJ
as seed, will for one year weld as we'll os
the larger potatoes of the same cron Rnt
the law. after all, is bound to assert itS
claims. If tho small potatoes of the sec.
ond crop. or any succeeding CROP. he
planted. the result will be to diminish the
size OF the whole crop. and more and more
IS the practice is continued. When FIR
once small potatoes are planted tbev
should be dropped whole. Those of MOI,
crate size may be cut into two, three or
our pieces. They are cut into sinoIe
ayes. This year; when potatoes are scarce
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-05-14

Two DooRs.-Every persons feelings
have front door and side door by which
they may be entered. The front door is
on the street. Some keep it always open ;
some locked; some bolted with a chain
that will let you peep in, but not get in :;
and some nail it up. so that nothing can
pass its threshold. This front door leads
into passage which opens into an ante
room, and this into the interior apartments
The side door opens ut once into the sacred
chambers. There is almost always at least
one key to this side door. This is carried
for years hidden in n mothers bosom.
Fathers, brothers, sisters, and friends often,
but by no means 50 universally, have dup
licates of ito. W. Holmes.
TIE THREE RULEs.-What is the low
est rule of human conduct The Iron
rule.
What is the next highest rule? The Sill
YER rule.
What is the highest ruler The Golden
rule.
What is the Iron rule? Evil for evil
What is is the Silver rule? Good for
good.
What is the Golden ruler Good for
evil.
Why do you consider the Iron rule the
lowest? Because it is the expression of
the animal faculties of the man, and the
law of brutes and savaSes.
Why is the Silver rule better? Because
it is the Golden rule half expressed.
Why is the Golden rule the highest and
the best? Because it is the essence of our
O, iritual Nnppantinnu IF risr n
from the highest faculties of our nature,
must be the best guide in tho conduct of
life.
THE QUEEN OF HoME.-Honor the dear
old mother. Time has scattered snowy
flakes on her brow, plowed deep burrows
on her cheeks, but is she not sweet and
beautiful now? The lips are thin and
shrunken, but those are the lips which
have kissed many a hot tear from the
childish cheeks, and they are the sweetest
lips in the world. The eve is din, vet it
glows with the soft radiance that can
never fade. All, yes, she is a dear old
mother. The sands of life are nearly run
out, but, feeble as she is she will 90 fur
ther and reach down lower for you than
any other upon earth. You cannot enter
a prison whose bars will keep her out
you can never mount scaffod too high
for her TO reach that she may kiss and
bless you in evidence of her deathless
love. When the world shall despise and
forsake you, when it leaves you by the
waysde to die unnoticed, the dear old
mother will gather you in her feeble arms
and carry you home and tell you all your
virtues until you almost forget your soul
is dlsigured by vices. Love her tenderlv,
and cheer her declining years with holy
devotion.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-05-14
agricultural department.
o. rINkHAM. EDITOR.

All communications for this department should be
ent to the editor. Mr.. O. NJ. TINKHAM. N. Pom
fret. VT.
Please write side Of the paper only sign such
name initials you wished published. but give
State
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-05-14
No Patent No Pay
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