davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-09-03
For the Freeman.
A Chat with Farmers.
ABOUT NOXIoUS INSECTS,
BY AGRICOLA.

The distinction between the beetles
which we have described and those we
have yet to describe is in the number of
joints in their feet. The former are five
jointed and the latter four,iointed. In this
last class are found the weevil tribe.
1t may not be known to all our readers
that weevils in the winged state are only
hard-shelled beetles. They are distin-
guished from other insects by the pecu-
liarity of their heads. They have n
longer and more slender snout, in the end
of which the opening of the mouth and
the small horny jaws are placed. These
are the true weevils.
There are flies and moths produced
from certain young insects, falsely called
weevils. True weevils are literally snout-
borers. They are generally of small size.
They have small and concealed feelers, a
wide and oval thorax, short legs and fiat
tened feet. This species of beetles are
very destructive of plants. They bore
into the leaves, bark, buds, fruit and seeds,
and feednpon the softer portions. They do
this mischief in the day time, unlike other
culprits. Some of them have wings and
others have not, or at least such as enable
them to fly. They are slow of foot, with.
out means of defence, and very timid.
When alarmed they fold up their legs
and drop from the plant TO the ground
They use their shouts both for feeding and
boring holes in which they drop their eggs.
The young of the snout beetles arc
merely short, feshy grubs. without legs,
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-09-03

HABITS OF HONEY BEEs.-The honey
bee is q model of neatness as we'll as OF
industry. The infalible instinct of the
insect enables it to select only the most
delicious nectar produced in the grand
laboratory of nature. Bees are impatient
Of any disagreeable odor, and enraged il
any impure or decaying matter is brought
in proximity to their hive. Bees sometimes
go three miles from their apiary in search
Of honey. Whenever II bee has secured a
load of nectar, he rises in the air to a
certain altitude, apparently takes his bear
ing, and then starts in perfectly straight
direction for its hive. This constitutes
the true and original "bce line"
Bees are short lived, their average
existence being about six weeks. This
applys only to the workers. The queens
live much longer, enjoying the preroga-
tive of royalty. The drones are male
insects, and having fulfilled their mission,
either suffer violent death or are driven
out of the hive by the workers. As work
ing bees are necessary, and have no share
in parental duties or obligations save to
provide for their successors, and as the
bees that gather honey in the early part of
the summer never live to enjoy it the
following winter, their unwearied industry
seems to be characterized by the purest
unsellishness. An unprecedented number
of colonies persisted during the intensely
cold weather of January, many apiaries
being entirely depopulated Planter and
grange.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-09-03

CALIFORNIA CRoPs.-The first half year
of 1879 has passed away, and yet, with the
greatest general depression ever known
on this coast,t great agricultural interest
has been steadily advancing in spite of all
these drawbacks, and, although there has
been an unusual complaint among our
farmers of "hard times" the exports of
our agricultural products have been great
Ell in the first half of 1879 than in 1873.
The prospective grain crop promises a
very full yield, and, although they are
late this year, we venture the assertion
that the grain crop Of 1879 will fully equal
that Of 1878.
The wool clip of the present year will
be larger than the year of 1878, and its
value by the recent rise will be much
greater.
The fruit crop of California for 1879
shows that it will be immense in all the
various departments; and now while the
many fruit-preserving establishments of
out state are working to their fullest MEANS
and hundreds and thousands of cans of our
fruit in the dried and preserved state, and
in jellies and jams are shipped abroad
almost every day to all parts of the world,
our markets are daily overloaded with
tens of thousands of boxes, cases and
baskets of fruits of all kinds, and as fine
and luscious fruits as the world can boast
while the cost of this fruit is very low
The vineyards this year teen with
promise of great abundance, and already
so fruitful are the vines, and so strong in
growth, that they already at the extremity
of their branches show u second gathering
of punches, which should be nipped off
even at some cost, that the full strength
of the vine may be given to the main set
of punches.
The increase of the crop of nuts this
year will be very large, English walnuts,
almonds, chestnuts, and even Pecan nuts
will give an immense yield, the latter (the
Pecan) only small, being lately introduce
ed.
Our raisin and fig crop is enormous and
the quality the very Dcst-the " Blower
raisins are now esteemed so excellent
as to displace the need of foreign impor-
tation, and SO great is the demand for
the " Blower raisins" that it exceeds the
supply.
The other varied crops Of our state are
all good and very abundant, and we see
no reason why our farmers and producers
generally should not. by means of the
crops of the present year, come out from
under the clouds and shadows of the hard
times and close up their year in good
and healthy condition.--C,Iljlornjn Farmer
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-09-03

and of whitish color. They wear hard
she'll caps on their heads and convex rings
about their bodies. These are their dis
tinguishing characteristics. They have
strong, horny Jaws. which they use TO adj
vantage in the destruction of plants. In
deed, in the grub state these weevils are
the most injurious to vegetation. Some
attack fruits. grain and seeds; others bore
into the leaves and stems of plants; still
others penetrate into the solid wood. caus-
ing the branch to wither and die.
The transformation of these grubs takes
place for the most part within the vegeta-
BILE substances upon which they live.
Some, however, go into the ground and
there become pupa and beetles.
The pea bugs are species OF weevil,
and are transformed within the seed peas
in the spring of the year. Their body /:
oval and convex, and the head is bent
downward. Their antenne are short and
saw-toothed within, and their wings dc
not cover the end of the abdomen.
This whole tribe of insects frequent the
pOd-bearing plants, both during and aftel
the Towering season. They wound the
skin of the tender pod, and there lay theil
eggs. Each maggot Matched perforate'
the pod and enters the seed, and there
feasts upon the pulp until full grown.
This will be an interesting chapter t.
those who enjoy the luxury of green peas
as they will learn that they unconsciously
swallow numerous worms or weevil grubs
They may be found in every pea of ever,
pod on the vines. They live upon th,
marrow of the pea, and the pea eater mus
| live upon the marrow of the grub. Tn,
eaters have the advantage of having then
cooked!
The weevil in the larvae form arrives u
full growth by the time the pea become
dry. The pea is planted; it sprouts ant
grows, and during the process the larvo
becomes pupa, in the autumn, and in tn,
spring it casts its skin and becomes bee
tie, and escapes into the air. After tn
pea vines have lowered, and while tn,
pods are young and tender, to make sur
of a crop of weevls for the next year, tn
beetles gather upon the vines and pod
and deposit their eggs.
All peas are infested with these insects
whether green or dry, until the peas ar,
one year old, when the insects entirely
leave them. Hence pea-eaters, who d,
not wish a mixed diet, must use only til,
/ old, dry peas.
The pea weevils are supposed to b.
natives of the United States. They wer,
first noticed in Pennsylvania, many year
ago, and have gradually spread over New
Jersey, New York and most of the New
England states. They are now common
in the south of Europe, and in England
and have probably been carried Their
from this country.
To destroy this weevl, the peas must b
kept for one year, and dipped in hot waite
before they are planted.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-09-03

Some weeks since we made mention of
an acre of summer squash. one-half of
which was sown with seed one, and the
other half with seed two years old. and
reported the condition of the plants at that
time. By July the growth of the vines
seemed uniform on the entire field. those
on that part of the field sown with old
seed having gained upon the others, which
were larger from the start. The first
squrshes from this field were gathered
July 7, and at that time more than double
the quantity were picked from the vines
from new seed than were gathered from
that portion sown with old seed. Since
that date, however, the vines from the old
seed have been gaining. and are now
yielding very nearly as many squashes as
the new seed So that thus far the differ
ence between old and new seed, in thi.
instance, seems to be that the new seed is
earlier in growth of vine and yield o.
fruit. and the old seed is later, though
coming on finally as satisfactorily in yield
us the new seed.-American CultiUGt0r.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-09-03

MILKING.-The faster and more gentle
amount given. Slow mixers always
gradually dry up a COW land for the reason
that if the milk be not drawn about rs fast
as it is given down it will subsequently be
withheld, land that withheld, is as matter
of course what is known as the strippings
in fact, the upper surface of milk in the
udder. Many mixers draw the milk with
a strong downward pull, in fact, with a
jerk. This should never be allowed; it
Irritates the COW, and often Injuries the
bag. Fill the teat and with firm pres
sure of the last three fingers empty it,
drawing slightly on the teat and udder al
the same time; so proceed alternately
with each hand until the milk supply is
exhausted. Many mixers get the habit
of slow milking because steady, firm, quick
milking tires the fingers and wrists, until
work Until this use becomes natural the
individual should only milk such Il number
rs they can without severe cramping OF
the hands; what are MIXED should be
MIXED fast, increasing the number until
at last there is no firing whatever. Five
minutes is about the limit that should
be allowed for milking a COW. There is
another thing well worthy of being re,
membered. Cows should be MIXED us
nearly at a given hour morning and even
ing as possible, since undue dstentiou of
the udder is always Injurious Prairie
Farmer.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-09-03

BEET SUGAR.-Mr. Gennert writes to
the american CuitsUator as follows: If
any doubts the fact that the beet sugar
industry is now attracting the greatest in,
terest in America, he will certainly be
convinced of his mistake when he counts
up the humber of joint stock companies
which have been organized for the manu-
facture of sugar from beets during the
last six months. Six or more have sprung
into life, or at least into existence, in
Canada; two, which have shown some
signs of life, in Delaware, and at least six
more in various states on the Atlantic
coast. Besides these, there is some agita-
ton of the subject in Oregon, Washington
Territory, and in Colorado. In the latter
section it has been found that the grass
hoppers and potato bugs utterly refuse to
touch the beet leaves or roots, and that
grasshoppcrs would rather if every thing
else is devoured, exist on broom handles
and pitchforks. In Utah an embryo beet
sugar establishment has sprung into life
under the fostering care of the Latter
day Saints"
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-09-03

THICK AND Thin SEEDING.-aaving |
taken the Fdrmer for sixteen years. l
have read great deal about thick and
thin seeding. have Just looked over an
article penned by w. L. b., advocating
one bushel of wheat per acre or less. With
all due respect TO writer l esteem so
highly, must say his experience differs
very much from mine. / have raised
wheat on small scale for thirteen years,
from eight to twenty acres each year, and
have varied the amount of seed sown on
every lot. hoping to ascertain by actual
test through a term of years, and under a
variety OF circumstances, when would
bring the best results. have sown from
one to three bushels per acre, sometimes
broadcast and narrowed in, and parts of
two pieces were put in with a cultivator. /
generally use the drill and prefer it. |
have sown broadcast two or three pecks
and then followed with the drill, adding
five pecks. This brought a fine crop
twenty-eight bushels per acre--but was
too much trouble TO sow it. Cross drilling
disapprove of. My best crops have been
where one and half or one and three
fourths bushels were sown. l am satisfied
that thin seeding has cost me more than
hundred dollars, or perhaps two hun
bred. But seasons, soil, time of sowing
and other circumstances vary so much
that no definite rule can properly be laid
down. | run my seed through the tanning
mill and patent sitter, sowing only the
largest kernels; this is very important.
| The varieties of wheat sown were Blue
Stem. Mediterranean. Lancaster, and last
year Clawson; yield, from eighteen to
thirty bushels per acre. Clawson not
threshed yet. must make one exception
of eight acres. This | plowed, in July,
1869, ten or eleven inches deep, worked it
as fine as ashes, and sowed September
9th; harvested thirty-fve bushels of pr OF
wheat on whole lot; ruined by deep plow-
ing, and the lot is sick yet Our soil is
clay loan and not wheat land proper,
though two brothers near me have made
wheat raising n specially for years, and l
never knew them to raise less than twenty
bushels per acre, They sow from seven
to eight pecks. Where land is very rich
thin seeding might do well, but the ashes
and rich vegetable matter of former years
have been sapped out by repeated crop
ping and we must SOW thick enough to
protect the tender roots, in winter and
spring, and to take possession of the
ground the weeds will. | intended to
write more, but my paper is already too
long.-Jared T. Pond, IN Ohio Farmer.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-09-03

HAWKS AND OwLs.--These pests to
the poultry yard and roosts are so heavy Il
tax upon the raiser as to make the bust
ness Improbable. Against the latter there
is safe remedy, which is to make a roost
for the fowls SO that the owls cannot see
them; but as so few will make these pro-
tections the best thing is to destroy the
destroyers. Hawks are apt to alight near
the place on some prominent object and
watch for their prey, and if stout pole
be set up with steel trap set upon it in II
conspicuous place, both hawks and owls
can be caught in trap. Another sure
plan is to make n round cage, about one
foot in diameter and of the same height,
and put in this cage u live chicken; stake
the cage down, and then hide with hay or
straw about half the cage, and on the
open side set three good steel traps cover
cd with chalf.-Journal of agriculture.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-09-03

AN ALLEGED DIsCovERY.-A lady of
Springfield, Mass. has been experiment.
ing in putting up fruits and vegetables in
sealed cans. All know that heating fruit
in the can, 10 expel the air, more or less
detracts from its natural flavor. She
avoids this labor and injurious treatment
by filling to the brim with clean, pure,
cold water. She allows the cans to stand
long enough for all the confined air to
escape, and then soldiers or perfectly seals
the vessels. Cans or jars of fruit thus
treated, and then kept in as cool and dark
a place as the owner can command, will
not only keep longer and open with more
natural appearance, but actually retain
more of the richness and flavor of fruit
recently picked than any heating process
resorted to. The alleged discovery is a
most valuable one, and, practically DEM
onstrated will be worth millions to the
fruit growers of the world,
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-09-03

There is some prospect that the beet
sugar manufacture will be commenced in
Maryland. Beets have been grown this
season at Pikcsvlie, from imported Ger.
man seed and recent analysis shows
them TO contain twelve per cent of sugar.
A body of German manufacturers have
agreed to establish a factory at Baltimore,
furnish all the material and skilled
workmen, if the farmers will grow the
thousand acres in beets with German seed
which they will take at five dollars per
ton. The farmers in the vicinity of Eschol
Brook and Pkesvile look for the enter
prise to be started another spring.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-09-03

TIE UP THE GRAPE VINEs.-Valuable
grape vines, planted with great care, are
often left to take care of themselves Mt this
season of the year-when they need care
most. For the first two years good,
stout stake, say six feet long, is all that
is necessary for II support. This should
be firmly set in the ground and the zines
kept tied 10 IL. Should other shoots start
from the old wood, rub them off and keep
lateral shoots pnched back to one or two
leaves. Remove all injurious insects by
hand, and dust with flour of sulphur
should mildew appear
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-09-03

LIQUID MANUREs.-When plants have
struck their roots and obtained lease Of
life there is nothing that appears to impair,
such vigorous growth as liquid manure
Tie danger with tender flowers lies in
making the mixture too strong and apply.
ing it too frequently. A spoonful of guanc
in n six quart water pot will give Il growth
that weeks of ordinary cultivation would
fail TO secure.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-09-03

OGDEN FARM JERsEYs.-The failure Of
the recent sale of Odgen Farm Jerseys at
Chicago has brought ont criticisms and
remarks of all kinds. There is no doubt
that one cause of the failure was the want
Of judicious advertising, as the crowd
present at the sale was small one. The
managers, no doubt imagined that the
simple announcement that Col. Waring
would offer Ogden Farm Jerseys for sale,
on certain day, was amply sufficient
all the papers would take up the cry, and
the approach Of the colonel and his cattle
club animals would be heralded from
every hill and mountain top. But he
knows now that he was mistaken, and it
is to be hoped that he will do better next
time.
wish to call attention to the following
remarks of I. q. Jones, in his report on
tue stock at the Ohio state fair, in 1873.
think he fairly represents the situation.
He says:
within the last few years there has
been organized in the Eastern states, a
Jersey Cattle Club which seems to con-
troll in alarge degree the breeding OF this
valuable strain Of dairy cattle. This club
publishes herd book called the Jersey
Cattle Club Register under such severe
restrictions as TO exclude from record a
large class of well bred cattle of this valu-
able breed. Their rules, we believe, ex.
clude the descendants of the best stock
imported from England, and even from
Attorney and Guernsey, and admit only
such as can show descent from animals
from the one island of Jersey, and thai
were there recorded as thoroughbreds
and until recently, as to these imported
cattle, it was required that the pedigret
should be accompanied by a photograph
taken in Jersey, with certificate of iden
tity! All which would seem TO indicate
that this club was disposed to circum
scribe the limits of this fashionable blood
and confine it TO rs few hands as possible
instead of encouraging its diffusion fo
the improvement Of American dairy stock
OHIO Farmer.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-09-03

A visitor to the hop districts Of New
York writes to the Utica Herald that grow.
ers would sooner allow their chickens to
BIO killed than skunk" since this useful
creature, usually in such bad odor with
most people, proves very great help in
the struggle against the grub which does
so much injury to the vine.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-09-03
agricultural Department.
ON, TINkHAM, Editor.

All communications for this department should be
sent to the editor. Mr.. o. NJ. TINKHAM' n. Pom
fret, VT.
Please write on side Of the paper only sign such
name or initials as you wished published but give
your FILL NAME AND ADDRESS, post office. County and
State.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-09-03
THEY ARE THE BEST.

GentLemen.-Encosedy you will find SO 25, and wish
you won Id send me another dozen of your COLLINS
VOLTAIC PLASTERS; BY the above you will see that
do something to help others in some way if
Dor who have tried your pasters who had given out
with me that they the best they have ever tried
have got along this winter better than have before in
three years Wished could have heard of your plas-
'0i' '0A0''' LORETTA Nj. CROSS,
Ballston, Spa, N. Y, March 81, 1877.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-09-03
COLLINS
IOLTlIC PLASTER

An Electro Galvanic Battery combined
with a highly Medicated Strengthening
Plaster, forming the best Plaster for pains
and aches in the world of Medicine.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-09-03
A MORBID SWELLING.

Geatlemen,-I sent for one of COLLINS Y0LTAIC
and 1t has been of great benefit in reduc-
ing swelling in my left side that two physicians pro-
nouuced Enlargement of the Spleen and pro-
nounced Ii an Ovarian Tumor.
L. A, BLISTER,
Cynthianil, Ind. March 20, 1877
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-09-03

TulHE cure effected in my case by Sanfords Radical
L Cure was so remarkable that it seemed to those
who had suffered without relief from any of the usual
remedies that it could not be true. therefore made
aidavi to it before Seth j. Thomas, Esq, Justice of
the Peace. Boston, -
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-09-03

Be careful to call for CoLLINS'voLTAIC PLASTER
lest you get some worthless imitation. Sold by all
States add Canadas and by WEEKS POTTER, Pro-
prietors, Boston, Mass.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-09-03
Central Vermont R. R. Inc.
Commencing Monday, July 7. 1879.
rp.1NsaoISG SOUTH AND EAST.

,.,-o g O5. 200 and9 O0P NJ.
ttiThite Mountains Express from Syracuse and OR-
aanshurg St Adams aud Burlington arrives at Mont
pglfssiII TRAIN from Montreal ST. Adams, Bnrling-
ton, &c, leaves Montpelier Il 40 A. M Ter Boston
New London, SprlnEnelu' NE" AorA' anu in'ef
mediate points. ~. ,,L ,,,,,,,..,, ,.o
Express from montreal IL ic a II
Nontpeer 2O5 p NJ for Boston via Lowell, also Bel
lows Falls and Brattleboro' ,,. r.,
Rutland and Burlington &c. arrives at Montpelier "a
P. NJ .rL.u,9 M m =, purIingtop
4Sp M Montpelier Z 00 p. NJ .. for Northheld., "a
NIaHT FIX PRESS from Ogdenshurg, Montreal st. Al
hans and Burlington, leave Montpelier at 300 ~ for
Boston via, Lowell or Fitchburgh. Springfield New
York and intermediatepoints
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-09-03

A FTEIR using two bottles find myself permantly
n cured 1 have since recommended over one
hundred bottles with the greatest success
WM W. ARMSTRONG,
l59 Harrison Ave, Boston
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-09-03

NyTE have sold Sanford's Radical Cure for nearly
w one year and can say canddly that we never
sold similar preparation that gave such universal
satisfaction We have yet to learn of the first COM
fi''N' SD BALDWIN & CO., Washington, Ind.