Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-10-05
AGRICULTURAL.
Higher Prices for Hay.
From the New England Homestead

added demand onl the hay mows. There
fore We anticipate that higher prices vii
rule for hay during tho next eight month
than for several years. The advance vii
first be felt locally in southern New Eng
land. As the demand increases and tn,
supply diminishes in the local markets
hay shipped from Maine and Northeri
Vermont and Canada will meet with NJ
improved market, notwithstanding th'
immense crop general in those sections
So don't be in hurry to sell your hay.
salt I'm the Fruit ana vegetable Gar
den.
A friend who is an enthusiast in fruit
growing Informs me that he had lot o
plum trees, some 80 in number, which
had been set ten years, and although they
had received good care and plenty of fer
tilizer from his barnyard, had failed tc
declare a divided for the whole time. This
proved too much for his patience, and he
laid the axe to the roots of all but five OF
them, when it occurred to him tos what
virtue there was in salt. He sowed a
bushel and half broadcast under the
five, covering the ground completely and
utterly annihilating every green thing,
leaving the ground, so lie said "as bare
MS the road" He did not feel sure the
trees would survive this heroic treatment,
but thinking he could no more than lose
the small sum the salt cost anyway, lie
''put it on thick.
Now for the result The trees are now
"loaded to the ground" literally, with MS
fine crop of plums as one may set eyes
on anywhere. The limbs are covered
from the body of the trees to their tips,
looking more like huge bunches of i'm
mense grapes than anything l ever saw.
My friends theory is that tho salt has
killed or driven off the curculio, and
given the crops chance to grow. 1t
er explanation. Let us hear from some
of our fruit-growers elsewhere in regard
to it.
1 have found salt very useful in the
asparagus bed, too. SOW on sufficient
to kill all weeds and grasses which may
crowd in, and thus save hoeing-even if
theirs is no other virtue in it. | think,
however, there is, for my soil is light and
sandy, and the salt would have tcnden-
cy to attract moisture and thus increase
the size Of the stalks. AS rule, aspara-
gus is set too closely. Give it plenty of
room by all means, and plenty of manure
If you can. Don't crowd 100 hundred
roots into the space which 80 would easily
fill, and you will get better satisfaction.
| recently visited II garden where aspara-
gus is set all around the outside about
once in three feet. A crown was growing
and throwing up some exceedingly large
fine stalks. The ground was full Of roots
from one crown to the next, and nothing
Else is allowed to grow all the way around
the garden for fully four feet from the
fence. The gentleman who raises the as
paraSus is noted for having the finest
brought into this market. l am inclined
10 think there is more in care and culture
han i'll variety in raising this vegetable.
Making Swine Feeding Profitable.
From the Country Gcntlemanl
The prevailing idea among farmers in
he New England and Middle States, that
swine can only be made profitable in the
West, is susceptible of criticism This
belief has gained ground during the past
cw years, with the increase of Western
competition, and i'll many localities far
ncrs are giving less attention to this class
If stock each year. 1t is true that hogs
'niscd largely and fattencd exclusively
lpon corn, worth in the market more than
nails by the time they are ready for the
armers meat barrel or tie butchers ta-
Die, and with this managementit requires
title study to figure up positive loss. Yet
his is the method followed by the maiori-
Y OF Eastern farmers in keeping pigs.
The most successful swine feeders in
he West, and in all parts of the country
or that matter, produce their pork large
y upon clover and grass. The animals
re only "finished off, or fattsncd on
orn. This mode of raising pigs is esseu-
ial to success i'll the East, owing to the
lish price OF corn, aud if other cheaper
ood can be substituted for the corn, in
attening, the chances of success are still
'etter. The most successful swine feeder
n this locality feeds his pigs no grain
whatever, but substitutes hotel garbage
or both growing and fattcning the AMI
nails, and the business, when carried on |
near cities or villages, often
,ives large profits for labor and money
expended. The only way by which swine
an be profitably y grown and inttcneI, is |
o supply cheap food for the animals to
,row on. Corn may be fed to produce |
at, but not growth, for with grain ut pre-
'ailing prices, it does not require long
ime for GROWN. pigs to "eat their heads
III. Eastern farmers can make swine
Profitable by giving the pigs the run of
lover and grass pastures during the sum
ner, and supplying such other food. aside
rom grain, that may be at hand. In fnt-
ening, boiled roots, pumpkins, apples,
tc., may be fed, il connection with corn
In making pork for market, early spring
igs are preferable to those of any other
ge, and for this reason warm place is
eeded for the sows when farrowng |
'or home use, ] prefer fall pigs, kept in
rowing condition during the following |
ummer, and fattened early in the fall. |
such pigs make more side meat, or mess
'ork, according to their weight, than
he smaller ones aie usually preferred. |
II feeding swine for market, it is import |
mt 10 take advantage Of un early demand, |
'hen pork usually sells for two or three
ents moro per pound than later. when
markets are well supplied. In wintering
tore hogs, it is important to provide com
ortable quarters, with plenty Of dry
traw for bedding, and to give the ami
lals ample opportunity for exercise. |
Roots, kitchen slops and clover hay IN IKE
,ood winter feed for store hogs, ana may
'e supplied at littleexpense.
1t Is hardly necessary to bring up the
Importance of keeping only the best
reeds of swine. The expense OF pro- /
uring Tell-bred stock is SO small with
his class Of farm animals, that no pru-
lent farmer will tolerate an i'll l-bred pig in
lis herd. 1t is Il common mistake to con-
inc growing pigs and store hogs in small
,ens and yards, which become filthy and
unhealthy for the animals. 1t can hard |
y be expected that swine will prove pro-
table stock when constantly confined in
mall pens or yards, with plank floors, or
muddy, filthy, bare surfaces, and fed ON
lishwater, soapsuds and a little corn.
This is the system practised by those who
ire free to say that "swine don't pay.
Select good, well.bred pigs, provide nu
Il Il. I