Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1884-03-21

Cherries and plums must be grated very
early
Mulch currant bushes and ounce trees
with coal ashes to check the ravages Of worms.
Dr. Sturtevant soys so.
81 an farmer, and no one shall rob me
Of this honorable title says Joseph Harris.
And what is more honorable than being a
good, progressive farmer?
The good old Massachusetts, horticultural
society has appropriated $3.50 for prizes on
plants and flowers $1,000 on fruits, $3.50 on
vegetables and $50 for gardens and green
houses a total Of 5000. For particulars
apply to Robert Manning, secretary, Boston.
A competent judge who attended the great
stock shows Of America and England in 1888
says the New World shows the best stock and
in the greatest numbers furthermore, that
leading English breeders admit that they
must accept second position in this great in
dustry 1t is also shown that the number Of
cattle in Great Britain has decreased 31S, 600
and sheep 5000, 600 in the past eight years.
As the time for spring seeding approaches
farmers should secure seed absolutely pure,
or as nearly so as can be obtained Weed
seeds should not be sown, though the field
be left uncropped Even in 30 small mat.
ter as sowing barley free from oats the Rd-
vantage Of clean seed often makes differ
ence Of ten or more cents per bushel in the
crop.
The quantity of fertilizers manufactured
in South Carolina in 1871 was % $50 tons
and in 1888 reached 1872, AGA tons. The prod
uot Of the phosphate mines for 1925 was
800, 1888 tons. New fields are being opened
and worked, and this industry is in q most
1ourishing state, showing a progressive stage
In American agriculture.
A short time ago a traveller saw on the Mus
selshell in Montana herd of about thirty
cattle surrounded by pack Of sixteen wolves
They were standing at bay, with the calves
in a centre Of q hollow square, which the an
imals were protecting from their savage enc
mics. The wolves would make an attack Oh
the cattle in front and rear but were every
time driven Oft
The demand for horses largely exceeds the
supply in Vermont this spring, and conse-
quently prices are high Parties from the
seaboard cities are securing the state, $50
to S225 being paid for good roadsters and
workers, and from that up to very high fig.
ures for animals Of exceptional style and
speed.
An apple tree standing in good location
and that has a sound trunk should never be
destroyed. If the variety is unproductive or
otherwise undesirable it can be grated over
and in three or four years be made profitable
The Northern Spy is one of the best varie-
ties to graft on old trees When young this
sort is inclined to grow to leaves and wood
rather than to fruit but in old trees, where
the sap moves slowly, this tendency is check
ed and the tree is made fruitful
Mr.. Il. b. Gurler of Illinois, states that
III few years by Kidding himself Of the
more unproductive cows, and changing from
summer to winter dairying he increased the
butter yield from 80 to 22G pounds per COW.
an increase Of 200 per cent in the profit
During the year the gross income from his
dairy was Ss3.G2 per COW, and the cost
OF keeping $500 per COW, leaving S4G.l2
per COW after deducting the value OF feed or
in other words 81 in feed produced s. %
worth Of milk. The result is one that clear
ly shows that dGirying is profitable when
properly managed.
Farmers should not forget that the bran
and other coarse feed made from wheat are
richer in elements Of plant food than the
whole grain, and Of course feeding them
makes a richer manure. 4 ton of wheat
bran Is worth Slt.5 81 for manure. while ton
of corn meal Is worth only So 60 These
figures are based on the cost CT nitrogen
phosphoric aoid and potash in their CONNER
clal forms, and represent the comparative
manurial value Of feed II is probably true
that at present prices OF wheat bran farmers
can purchase it to feed and make manure
more cheaply than they can otherwise obtain
1t. In most markets the coarse bran is nov
selling at So to SIS per ton, and after feed
ing Its manuriRl value will be greater because
1t will be more available.
The sooner maple sap is gathered and 70.
duced to molasses the whittier the article Ra.
pidity Of boiling Is in proportion to the shal.
lowness OF the sap IN the pan. II possible
sap should be boiled the day it runs If the
sap has been strained three times before il
enters the evRporRtor, there will be but few
skimmings TO come of. The sap should be
reduced TO II los. per gallon it is then IL
it's best condition to put up for home use
for market and for sugaring of. II should
be allowed to settle over night. being strained
while hot through flannel Then draw or
pour 1t of, leaving oil sediment behind
Homestead
Mr.. John Mitchell OF Meadow Brook Farm
near Newburg, n. Y, has two three .year.old
Holstein heifers with calves which, as milk
producers, have beaten the record Of that
class Of cattle. He has refused the offer Of
$4,000 for one OF them, with her calf
They are named Jamaica and Ethelka. re-
specctively, and were purchased from j N
Robbins OF Beaver Farm, Long Island Jg-
maica, the more remarkable of the two is
said to have produced nearly twice as much
per day as the highest record heretofore
made by three yeRr-old Holstein that of
Smith Powells Clothilde, at Syracuse, which
was sixty four pounds per day, or, estimat-
ing two pounds 20 quart, thirty-two quarts
Jamaica, however, has far exceeded this by
giving in one day the remarkable quantity Of
1884 pounds Of milk, or about 5l5 quarts
Ethelka though beating Clothldes best rec
ord, does not approximate the production Of
her mate Her best yield Of any one day
has been S03 pounds, or about 40 quarts
The milk Of both is rich and of fine flavor
They developed their productive qualities af-
tp~ tho birth NJ fbair gacopd oaIyag