davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1885-08-19
Fruit Diet.

One of the most salutary tendencies
of domestic management in our day is
that which aims at assigning to fruit
favored place in our ordinary diet. The
nutrient value of such food, in virtue
of its component starches and saccha-
rine materials, is generally admitted;
and while these substances cannot be
said to equal in accumulated force the
more solid ingredients of meat and an
imal fat, they are similarly useful in
their own degree, and have, moreover,
the advantage of greater digestibility.
Their conversion within the tissues is
also attended with less friction and
pressure on the constructive machinery.
The locally stimulant action of many
sub-acid fruits on the mucus mem
branes deserves mention. Its control
of too active peptic secretion, and
its influence of attraction exercised
upon the alkaline and aperient in
testinal juice, are points of more
than superficial importance. To this
action further effects, which aid the
maintenance of pure and vigorous cir
culation, are indirectly due. Dyspep-
tic stomachs, on the other hand, are
usually benefited by moderate allow
ance of this light and stimulating fare.
1t must be remembered, moreover, that
every fruit is not equally wholesome,
let the digestion be as powerful as it
may. Nuts, for example-consisting as
they do, for the most part, of condensed
albuminoid and fatty matters-cannot
compare in acceptance, either by the
palate or the stomach, with other sue
culent kinds, even though they contain
in the same bulk far greater amount
of nutriment. A little of such fruit is
enough for digestion, and that little is
best cooked. Nevertheless, if we take
fruit as a whole-ripe and sound, of
course-and consider the variety, its
lightness and nourishing properties,
whether eaten alone or with other food
and its cheap abundance, we cannot
hesitate to add our voice in support of
its just claim on public attention. In
former articles we have shown why
vegetable produce or fruit should enter
largely into the food of children. Well
chosen fruits are, consequently, forthem
as safe and beneficial as agreeable
Lancet
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1885-08-19
agricultural.
T. H. HOSkINS, m. D., Editor,
Newport, Vermont.
DrOuthy Kansas.

Whether it is true or not that the rain
fall of the western plains has increased
in consequence of settlement, tillage
and artificial afforestation, there is no
doubt that in some seasons they have an
abundant rainfall. Mr.. A. II. Griesa of
Lawrence, Kansas, writes us, under date
of July "a, that they have had floods of
rain all through the season, and that
there are hundreds of acres of dead
ripe wheat, and of oats also, yet uncut,
owing to the fields being too wet to al
low the use of harvesters. Bridges
were washed out by the early rains, re-
built, and many washed away the
second time. The great West is subject
to great climatic eXtremes-violent
storms of wind and rain, cyclones,
grasshopper visitations, excessively in
clement or unnaturally warm winters,
with sudden changes at all seasons,
such as are quite unknown in New
England. Our ancestors found about
the best part of the American continent
directly facing their old home across
the Atlantic, and to-day there is no
better or more comfortable part of the
earth to live in than the Atlantic slope
of the United States. The time will
come when the children of our western
emigrants will return and wonder what
their fathers Gheir mothers rarely did)
wanted to leave New England for. In
most cases they were driven out rather
by usury than by dislike of the
land of their nativity. And they are
still suffering from the same evil in
their new homes.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1885-08-19
The Tomato.

"This berry rather grows in popular
favor, Notwithstanding its condemna-
ton by certain contributors to journals
devoted to health. In common with
other forms of vegetable life, it is not
adapted to all human organizations, and
it is, no doubt, too medicinal to be eaten
with impunity thrice daily throughout
the entire year, as would be gratifying
to some palates; but, taken in modera-
ton, the tomato can be recommended,
and for sluggish functions of the liver
is an agreeable stimulant. 1t is, indeed,
member of the deadly nightshade
family, otherwise it would not be near
relative of the esculent potato" So says
an exchange. No doubt the tomato,
like the strawberry and other fruits
Ito say nothing of eggs, cheese, honey,
etc., produces unpleasant effects upon
some peculiar constitutions. But this
is no sign that it is in true sense medic
inal, any more than it's =" near rela-
tive" the potato. In our long medical
experience we have never been able to
discover any evidence that the tomato
is more medicinal than any other fruit.
Nothing is absurder than the idea that
it acts upon the liver, " like calomel,"
as we have often heard it said, and no.
body but notwithstanding crank like
Dio Lewis would ever think of charging
this simple and innocent fruit with
causing cancers. They could just as rea-
sonably be laid to the electric telegraph.
There is no " deadly nightshade fam
ily," but there is nightshade family of
plants, to which the several species of
nightshade, as well as the potato, the
horse-nettle, the ground cherry or
g strawberry tomato" cayenne pepper,
the egg plant, the thorn-apple (stramo-
nium), tobacco, and many other more
or less related plants belong. Formerly
the tomato was included in this family,
then removed and then re-instated, at
least by some botanists, as a genus of
the nightshade family (solanee). The
tomato, the eggplant and the potato
are well-known edible species, perfectly
harmless to ordinary constitutions, al
though there are several poisonous gen.
era classed with them as members
of the solanum family, which is very
extensive one.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1885-08-19
Congressional Appropriations to
Agriculture.

There is, to commence with, the sum
of $70,2S0 set apart for the commits
sioner and his immediate force. This
force includes chief clerkship at
50 800, already filed by Colonel Frank
Nesbit; chief of division of accounts
at 81 800; an assistant disbursing officer
at 81 400; thirty clerks, who come under
civil service protection, at from 81 900
to 81 500; stenographer, an engraver,
a botanist and an assistant, microsco-
pist, librarian, an engineer, firemen,
and finally, messengers, carpenters and
laborers at the commissioners discre-
ton, but whose aggregate pay must not
run over $4,000.
The sum of Sl1 800, given the chem
ical division, provides for three chem
lists, and such additional help as may be
needed.
An additional sum of $4,000 is set
apart for apparatus and chemicals, and
for experiments in sugar-making.
There is no reason to doubt that Pro-
fessor G. V. Riley will remain at the
head of the chronological division, for
which there is an appropriation the
coming year of $50, 900 The law di-
reefs that SO, 900 shall go to pay the sal
aries of the entomologist, his assistant,
and such help as may be necessary in
the division.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1885-08-19
A Prolific Sugar Tree.

"There is as much difference in maple
trees for sugar as there is in cows for
butter. Sixteen quarts of average sap
will make one pound of sugar. There
are some trees that, if tapped, will not
flow sap, while there are others that
have been known to discharge one
hundred sixty gallons in one season."
So says DR.. H. A. Cutting in the st.
Johnsbury Republican for April 10th
last. The most prolific tree that have
as vet been able to find is in Duxbury,
Vt, on the farm of G. w. Kellogg.
There was made from it last spring
fifteen pounds and five ounces, and sap
enough lost to have made in the whole
twenty pounds-so estimated. Only
one spout was used, bored with half
inch bit one and one-fourth inches
deep. Ten quarts of this sap made
twenty-six ounces of sugar. A few
years ago there were made from this tree,
in one spring, thirty and three-fourths
pounds, with only one tub but two
spouts. I would say that this tree
stands Immediately beside very cold
spring, which accounts for its quantity
and quality of sap, as / find in every
instance where a tree is thus or sim
ilarly situated it discharges much and
sweet sap. The colder the water the
sweeter the sap. Who can explain this?
TIMOTHY WHEELER.
Waterbury Center, Vt.
Has the GOODNESS of the water in
these observations been tested Their
Numerically, or only by the senses?
EnITOp
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1885-08-19
A Canny Scotch Woman.

During our season of "light house
keeping" we became much attached to
our Scotch neighbors, particularly the
wife and mother. She found her great
est delight in cooking, and was exceed
ingly accomplished in the art. She
told me that when she was girl in
Scotland she served an apprenticeship
in hotel kitchen, giving her time and
work in return for the privilege of
learning how to cook. What con-
trast to the average girl whom we hire
for our kitchens, whose ignorance is
bliss, and who unblushingly asks to
be roundly paid for the exercise of
it. This canny Scotch woman had an
enormous cook-stove, for which she had
paid $50, and she burned only wood in
it, because coal was not clean enough
Once every week she would bring us,
before breakfast, plate of raised bis
cults, hot from the oven, which were
so delicious that, in spite of the I'M
wholesomeness of fresh bread, we ate,
and quoted our consciences as best we
could. Her bread was equally nice,
uncommonly nice, and / asked her how
she made it. 1t is all in the yeast"
she began. Crate three raw pota-
toes, on which pour two quarts of boil
ing water; add two table-spoonfuls of
white sugar, one of salt; steep pinch
of hops, strain and add; then boil all
together ten minutes; when luke-warm,
add pint of bakers yeast; after it has
risen up like snow, put it in stone
jar Always keep cupful of it to
make the next batch of yeast. use a
pint and half for eight or nine loaves
of bread. l sift my flour always, and l
think water is better to mix up the
bread with than milk. knead it up at
night; rub with butter on the top so as
to keep it soft. For biscuits work in
some butter for shortening, roll out the
dough, cut into squares and butter the
edges to keep them from sticking. You
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1885-08-19
North German Cherries.

Here we have race of cherries that
will succeed in Northern Vermont,
being hardy, productive and good
either for cooking or dessert. They be-
long to the Griotte or Morello class, but
are much harder than any of the
Morellos heretofore introduced into this
country. They have been successfully
grown in Minnesota, and endured the
last hard winter in our garden without
harm. We have not yet obtained the
true Ostheim, but have the Myers seed
ling referred to below, the Lieb, the
Griotte du Nord, Large Montmorency,
and one or two others. The following
article upon this subject is from the
Rural Ne,C Yorker, contributed by
Horticultural Professor Budd of the
Iowa Agricultural College,:
Over a large portion of Europe,
where the Heart and Duke varieties of
cherries fail to do well, and even in
many parts where the latter succeed
perfectly, the Ostheim is a general
favorite of prince and peasant. AS
European pomologists unite in report
ing it harder in tree, firmer in leaf
and much higher in quality of fruit
than any of the Montmorency varieties
(of which our Richmond is One), it
seems strange that il has not been intro
duced and propagated by our large
nurseries of the eastern states. Posi-
bly, the small size of the tree and its
bushy habit of growth may account for
this general neglect; yet, without the
aid of nurseries or horticultural So
cieties, it has been introduced at a
number of points in the West by set
tiers from Eastern Germany, Poland
and Silesia, and is rapidly coming to
the front as one of the best and most
profitable of the sorts tried in the
Mississippi Valley. At several points
in Minnesota it has lived and fruited
where the Richmond has utterly failed,
while in Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska and
Missouri it has radiated from several
centers of sprout distribution. Dur
ing the summer of 1884 the foliage of
the Richmond and English Morello was
so injured by rust that the wood failed
to properly mature, and during the past
test winter the trees have been lost, eX
cept on the most favorable soils, while
the thicker and firmer leaves of the
Ostheim were free from rust, and the
trees now promise heavy crop of
fruit My experience and observa-
ton fully sustain Downing's estimate
of the fruit, viz: Fruit large, roundish-
oblate. Skin red, dark liver-color at
maturity. Stalk long. Flesh liver
colored, tender, juicy, almost sweet
sub-acid. 1t may be well to say that a
number of varieties of the Griotte race
have the name of Ostheim in various
parts of Europe. We have Ostheimer,
Cerise d'Ostheim, Ostheim Weichsel
and Griotte d'Ostheim imported from
Europe. These all seem identical, as
does also the variety introduced by
settlers from the old country in Kansas
and Missouri under the name of Os-
theim. The variety introduced into
Minnesota from Wurtemberg, Germany
by Mr.. Myers of st. Peters, seems one
of the variations found among the
peasants of the Swabian Alp. While
closely resembling the Ostheim in tree
and leaf, its fruit is earlier in season,
smaller and lighter colored.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1885-08-19

some benign result. The truth is simply
this one-half the human race cannot
use an infusion of the tea-plant, nor
that of the Drowned coffee berry, and
at the same time maintain reasonably
good digestion and strong, sound
nerves. These infusions have a won
derful power to stimulate and an equal
power to depress. Under their inhu-
ence the brain and nervous system are
elevated, exalted, raised refined. When
their short-lived influence ceases, the
facility of decent to a lower than the
original plane is startling. 1t is the
brilliant ascent of the rocket and the
dark and gloomy fall of the stick 1t
elevates only to narcotic and destroy"
In these particulars tea and coffee do
not essentially differ from alcohol and
opium, and no mother or wife who
makes use of either, or sets them be-
fore her guests, can consistently protest
against the moderate use of wine or
malt liquors for the same purpose. 1t
is within our personal observation that
excessive tea-drinking is capable of
producing decentralization of the ner-
vous system which closely resembles
the " delirium tremens' produced by
alcohol. Tea and coffee as a cause
of unhappy family relations, euphem-
istically described as "incompatibility of
temper" are hardly second-are indeed
not second in respectable society--to
the alcoholic drinks whose wide-wrought
mischief all confess, even while they
fail to avoid.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1885-08-19
Hints for HOusekeepers.

INSECT EXTERMINAToRs. am told
that fine salt is a sure preventive of
insects in carpets and bedsteads.
Sprinkle plentifully in all cracks and
around the edges of a room. / don't
know whether the buffalo bug can stand
picking or not. L have used Paris
green on house plants infested by red
spiders, and with good results. 1t might
not be best to use it where small chill
dren are liable to get hold of the plants.
NEW WAY TO Cook A SHIN OF
BEEF have been trying new way
to cook shin of beef. Boil it in water,
with little salt, till it is tender. Then
slip all the meat from the bone; cut it
in good-shaped pieces, not very thick;
roll in fine bread-crumbs and fry in
butter to light brown on all sides.
Dust little black pepper over it when
frying. Boil down the broth to a
convenient quantity (about a quartz;
thicken a little and serve in tureen,
or pour over the meat, as preferred. 1t
might be favored with onion or herbs
if one preferred.
BLACKBERRY WINE.-Last season
some friends of mine found it quite
difficult to get good recipe for black
berry wine, and so l send one / know
to be reliable. l have used it for years,
but do not remember where / obtained
it. 1t is as follows: Measure the ber-
ries and bruise them, or mash fine with
the hands. To every gallon of fruit,
after it is bruised, add one quart of
boiling water. Let it stand twenty
four hours, stirring occasionally. Strain
off into cask, or large stone jugs, and
to every gallon add two pounds of
sugar. Cork close. Such domestic
wines are very useful for sick persons,
and can sometimes be taken when
hardly anything else can. Some prefer
the brown sugar for wines, but l like
white the best.
GRATED BREAD.-Save all the pieces
of dry bread, toast them to light
brown in the oven, and put them away
in paper bag. Crate them fine for
thickening stews, soups and gravies.
For the latter, sift out the finest for
use. When frying fresh fish, roll the
pieces in crumbs before frying; also
chops and roasts are improved by it, as
it has none of the raw taste of flour.
For buildings and scalloped oysters L
like grated bread better than crackers.
l learned its use of an English cook,
who had crater made to order, which
is an improvement on the common sort.
1t is shaped like flat-iron standing on
end, and the edges are rolled over on
the back, to give it strength. a wide
handle, fastened to top and bottom,
serves to support it and to hold it by
when being used. Mrs. G. L. f.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1885-08-19
Our " FOrmuIa,O

d. X. S., Manchester, VT, writes:
81 have once or twice seen your formula
for making homemade phosphates;
but | do not have it at hand, and will
be greatly obliged if you will restate it,
suppose can make any use of it l
may see fit, provided I give you proper
credit"
REPLY.-We have never published
or had any formula for making a phos-
phate, in the ordinary sense of the term.
This has been done by Secretary Cut
ting of the Board of Agriculture and
by Professor Sabin of the Burlington
College, in the Vermont Agricultural
Report for 1872, as noted in our last
issue. But we have frequently recon-
mended the treatment of raw ground
bone with wood ashes, the two being
mixed together in the proportion of
one bushel of the bone to two bushels
of good unleached hardwood ashes,
this mixture being effected by repeat
edly shoveling over the ashes and bone
together upon the barn floor. The mix
ture is then packed pretty firmly into
barrels, and numerous holes made
nearly to the bottom with a smooth
stick, say hoe-handle. Then two or
three pailfuls of water are slowly
poured in (care being taken merely to
wet, but not to leach, the mixture) and
the barrel, withits contents, left to stand
two or three weeks. 1t is then emptied
ON the floor and enough dry ashes or
ground plaster added to make it dry
enough to handle and distribute. The
quantity used for crops should be the
same as with a good superphosphate.
AS regards the free use of this mixture,
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1885-08-19
Among the Hills.

When morn the gates of day unlocks
We hear the growing of the cocks;
And from the maple groves below,
The cawing of the hungry crow;
And later, from the clover dells,
The tinkling of the cattle.bells;
And later still, the hum of bees,
And whisp'rings in the forest trees;
With now and then, from field and fold,
Glad voices, as the day grows old
Among the hills! away from care,
The tonic of this mountain air
Comes as a benedction now.
Orestless heart and throbbing brow!
How kindly Nature sheds her balm,
Amid this universal calml
How soothingly upon her breast,
She gives her weary children rest.
-Touth'S Companion
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1885-08-19

know how early l get my bread baked
in the morningp' she concluded, with
laugh. " For corn Bread" she went
on, Z" use two cups of corn-meal, one
small cup of wheat flour; large table,
spoonful of butter, two eggs, and add
sweet milk until think the right con-
sistency is obtained. / don't 90 much
by measures. "--Correspondence Of Ru-
raj Ne1C Yorker,
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1885-08-19

we gave it to the public dozen years
ago. We are interested in no monopo-
lies, and hasten always to lay any good
thing or process with which we become
acquainted before those whom it may
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1885-08-19

DIR. GEORGE THURBER, the veteran
agricultural editor, remarked, twenty
years ago, that the difficulty of most
farm writers was in overestimating the
capacity of their readers. What the
people need is elementary instruction.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1885-08-19
Gbe 9ousebulo.

nE- Communications for this column should be
sent to the agricultural editor DIR. Hoskins, at
Newport, Vt
Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1885-03-14

The follo~tng ID the resolution in full
introduced IN the United States senate
March 9Th, By Mr.. Van wyck, and which
created such feeling of unsasiness
among railroad tools there:
hesot0ed, That the Secretary of the
Interior be directed 10 inform the Sen.
ate whether patents have been issued
for lands granted in 1871 20 the New Or
leans, Baton Rouge & Vieksburg ,ad.,
popniarly known ~ the Backbone Rail
road IL ~, for what number of acres
and 10 what corporation or individual,
or whose receipt vas taken for the same
when signed; vhether unusual means
were used TO hasten the preparation and
execution of said patents, whether the
clerical force employed worked nights
and Sunday, % they might be completed
before March 4th; what day they we're
ready for signature Of the President;
what necessity existed for any special
extension TO secure the completion and
signature before the Atm day of March,
and vhether anything was done to pro
tect the actual settlers in their rights to
such lands; also, whether previous to
the Atf of March anything was done or
written In regard 90 any other unearned
land grants fnture action ia which had
been consigned to the Forty ninth Coz
Rress.
Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1885-03-14
SEATTLE. w. t. SATURDAY MORNING. MARCH a. ,sss


At the see Of forty or forsy-6ys, the
cry stslins lens Of the eye has haftsned
TO such "a extent, by the layers OF the
lens condensina, that instead of being
able 20 read hne print at distance Of
twelve inches, ss formerly. the book has
to BE held At greater distance. What
- wanted il an artificial lens Just ihick
enough 70 ill 'up for the deaciency of
the lens Of the eye.
Instead Of selecting glasses for your
self, as II usually done. call on FRAsK
kIXBALL tof Kimball & SOM Who is a
practical opsician and thoroughly
understands the eye. and have him ad-
last pair of their celebrated Scotch
Pebble glasses, and don't ruin your eyes
with window glass spectacles. We also
make all kinds of compound, eylindri
cal, prisrnstie and complicsted lenses
on cur premises. Glasses ground to
order on prescription of any ooaiist.
Frye's Opera House. jasdw