davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1885-11-04
enough to name this variety when we
are sure that it is unnamed.
My Apples.

Ny orchard receives constant praise
on account of its thrifty appearance.
Some think it is the soil and some say
it is the good care l give the trees, but
1 know its thrift is largely due to the
hardy varieties planted by the advice
of DR.. Hoskins of Newport, whose ex-
perience had, in good degree, taught
him the reliable growers. 1t is not
new to write that l have about five
hundred trees, of which about one hun
dred have been set thirteen years and
the rest eight years, except sixty Wealthy
trees set last spring. / have had
more than a hundred trees die (mostly
bought of "agents y, but my orchard
rows, twenty feet apart, are now well
filled with trees ten feet apart. The
crop this year must be about one
hundred bushels. First came the
Tetofsky, in August. sold twelve
bushels at a dollar bushel and fed
many imperfect ones to my five pigs
Then came the Duchess of Oldenburgh,
which have been retailing through
September at from sixty to eighty
cents bushel. / had about thirty five
bushels. The Peach apple still fingers
October 1st and must be sold this
month. l have about TWENTY-FIVE BUSH
els. These are my principal varieties
now in bearing. l have trees that
bear heavily of small apples which
either go to pigs or to cider. These
are not all gathered The durability of
an apple depends upon its manage
ment somewhat. Timely and careful
gathering helps. l have few trees of
other varieties that cannot be de-
pended upon. / need not name them
over. The kinds / have mentioned
prove hardy, and it is the live trees
that look well in an orchard. If
could change any it would be to have
more Wealthy. 1 advise all to buy the
Wealthy. 1 have stopped cultivating
my orcnaru, anu Shall enrich III by
mulching. In trimming trees six
inches or more in diameter my rule is
to trim so that boy can climb into the
tree-top with basket to pick the apples.
This will take out the dead, weak
branches. I hired boy one after
noon for twenty-five cents to pick APP
pies, and he picked nine barrels. With
pigs to eat them, there is no need of
having apples rotting and wasting on
the ground. Z. E. JAMESON.
Irasburgh, Vermont
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1885-11-04
Ensilage for Fattening Cattle.

The late English papers contain the
details of experiments made by Sir j.
b. Lawes, which demonstrate that some
kinds of ensilage at least are, to use
the language of the distinguished eX-
perimenter, Every good food for fatten-
ing oxen" Ten bullocks were selected
from herd of forty Irish Shorthorns
of good quality, and so near alike that
there was only difference of twelve
pounds in their weights. These were
divided into two lots of five each, one
lot receiving 65 pounds of red clover
ensilage per day, and the other II
pounds of cut clover hay and 80 pounds
of rutabagas, this feed being supple
mented in both cases with a pounds of
barley meal and pounds of oil-cake
sometimes linseed and sometimes cot
ton-seeO. In ia days the lot receiv-
ing ensilage gained / ,547 pounds, an
average of 80 pounds, or 10 pounds
per head per week, or 1916 pounds per
1000 pounds of live weight. The gain
of the other lot, receiving the clover
and roots, was ,474 pounds, an average
of 295 pounds, or 1871 per head per
week, or AS pounds per 1000 pounds
of live weight per week.
The experiment was designed ev-
identity to show the comparative values
of ensilage and roots, and to demon
strate to what extent ensilage can be
substituted for root crops, this being
the principal point of interest to the
British farmer in regarding the ensil-
age problem. And this being the de-
sign of the experiment, it will be OBJ
served that the gain made by the ensil-
age steers as a whole, as an average, as
individuals and per 1000 pounds live
weight, is somewhat in excess of the
gains made by the other lot. The de-
tailed tables, however, show consider
able irregularity, one of the ensilage
steers gaining AIS pounds, while
another only gained 266 pounds, and
one of the steers receiving roots gain
ing 3S7 pounds, while another gained
only go nOunds
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1885-11-04
Farm OrnamentatiOn.

That ornament does not pay is a
common notion among farmers, and it
is acorrect one, if the result is measured
by immediate return in dollars and
cents. If a man regards an increase in
the value of his real estate as profit,
however, there are few OUTLAWS which
will bring such returns as iudicious or
namenting. 1t is fully as important to
"put the best side out in transfers of
horses or fruits. Establishment is
worth more in rendering farm attract
i've than is fine harness in showing
off horse, from the fact that the en-
bellishment is part and parcel of the
farm itself. Every one has observed
the superior readiness with which lastly
ornamented farms sell. The difference
in market value between such farms
and similar ones which possess no or
nament often amount to twenty-five or
even fifty per cent of what may be
termed the intrinsic values. Even if
one ever expects to sell his farm, Judi
cious establishment is source of profit
as an advertisement of the owner and
his crops. Many of the most success
full fruit-growers and stockmen under
stand this fact. Advertising is as profit
able in farming as other pursuits, and
farmers ought to know it. A beautiful
place at once attracts notice; people be-
come interested in it. Fruit from such
place is usually more priced than from
shiftless farms. A tasty label, contain
ing cut of an attractive country home
and neat orchards, with such legend
as From Rustic Valley Fruit Farm of
John Smith," will sell as much fruit as
good acknowledging.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1885-11-04

THE recent " New England fair"
held at Bangor, Maine, called forth
many protests from the decent portion
of the public in that vicinity, and some
of the ministers referred in their SER
mons TO the abuses attending the ag-
ricultural horse-trots." One of them,
DIR. George w. Field of Bangor Ga
graduate of Middlebury), said, in SER
mon entitled Thoughts on the Fair :"
(Which we find printed in the Bangor
Daily Commercially, that mankind is con-
tinually bringing evil out of that which
God made good" and adds: Take
further illustration in reference to
that noble animal to which / have al
ready referred, the horse, one of Gods
grandest works in the animal creation,
yet with which so many doubtful asso-
Citations are connected it almost seems
improper to introduce his name into the
pulpit. 1t was in view of the horse that
the sacred writer offers one of his
noblest hymns of praise to God, but
with many men of how much profanity
and vulgarity, of how much deception
and trickery, of how much gambling
and moral recklessness of every sort
the poor horse is made the innocent and
unwilling occasion. One of the best
of Gods creatures in form, in matter
in spirit, yet he seems to carry moral
contagion with him. Dickens (who
was certainly guilty of no asceticism)
says; How strange it is that horses
who are such fine, honest creatures
should seem to make vagabonds of al
the men they draw about Them"
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1885-11-04
COld-Weather Hints.

A FOLDED newspaper, covering the
chest and shoulders, under a cloak or
coat, will be found very comfortable in
extreme cold weather, especially while
riding.
A NoIsELEss way of feeding a coal
fire is to put shovelful of Goals in a
paper bag. Prepare half dozen bags
at time, use them as they are needed,
and thus the noise and dust generally
accompanying the usual mode of re-
plenishing the fire will be avoided.
WHEN about to take a long sleigh
ride make ready piece of joist Cor any
kind Of hardwooO the length of the
sleigh-seat, and twice the thickness of a
common brick; heat it on the stove or
in the oven. 1t is surprising how very
hot such a piece of wood will become
without burning, and how very long it
will retain heat. On such seat, and
covered with buffalo-robe, we have
comfortably, and the wood to be quite
warm at the journeys end. A similar
piece for the feet, at the same time,
tucked in from the wind, was delight
full. Another foot-warmer, more easily
made ready and serving many pur-
poses, is bag of bed-ticking fourteen
inches square. Bind the seams with
braid or strip of the ticking, leaving a
small opening until filled with sand.
Make slip cover for it of any material
you choose, or crochet of some bright
color, and fasten with buttons and
loops. When needed, heat very hot in
the oven, put it in its case, and it is
ready for use .-EGchange.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1885-11-04
don't think that these simple tokens
amount to something?
Gathered Notes.

LET sunshine into all rooms; it is
better than medicine.
IN the consumption of soap per
capita the United States lead Italy
is last on the list.
REMOVING stains of tar from the
hands is readily accomplished by rub
bling with the outside of fresh orange
or lemon peel.
THE so-called friend who retails disa-
greeable things to you, except under the
pressure of necessity, is either your ill
wisher or fool
BEFORE securing silver it should be
well washed in hot water, to which one
tea-spoonful of ammonia has been added
to each quart of water.
WHENEVER meal is followed by
an inaptitude for mental or corporal
exertion, we have transgressed the
rules of health, and are laying the
foundation for disease.
Your everyday toilet is part of
your character. A girl who looks like
fury" or a sloven in the morning is
not to be trusted, however finely she
may look in the evening.
A DECORATIVE novelty consists of an
ordinary school slate with pretty paint
ing upon it. The wooden frame is
gilded and gilded slate-pencil is fas-
tened to the top by bow of bright
ribbon.
OIL-cLoTH may be improved in APP
pearance by rubbing it with mixture
of half-ounce of beeswaX in saucer
full of turpentine. Set this in warm
place until they can be thoroughly
mixed. Apply with flannel cloth
and then rub with dry flannel.
WHEN white linen becomes widowed
it should be washed in warm water,
with little borax, and then rinsed in
clean water. After this put it into a
tub of water containing tea-spoonful
of hydro chloric acid to each pailful of
water; then rinse and dry in the sun.
To keep glass from cracking place
your tumblers, chimneys or vessels
which you desire to keep from crack
ing in a pot filled with cold water and
little cooking salt, allow the mixture
to boil well over fire, and then cool
slowly. Glass treated in this way is
said not to crack, even if exposed to
very sudden changes of temperature.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1885-11-04

SOME one has figured out that the
amount of liquor made and imported
into the United States in 1882 would
fill canal ten feet deep, twenty feet
wide and seventy-six miles long. The
money it represents would have built a
thousand-dollar house for the family of
every mechanic in the land, would have
paid for 1864 steamships at $250,000
apiece, would have purchased 1886, 400
farms of one hundred acres each, or
would have fed and clothed all the chill
dren in the states under five years of
age for two years, allowing dollar a
week for each of 100000 children.
Instead of doing this, it has gone down
American threats. So that notwith-
standing the many and grave social and
political evils still existing, it is mainly
the vices of our people that keep so
many of them poor and destroy their
children's chances in life.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1885-11-04
Is it Time Wasted !

In reply to an aged lady correspond
ent, who expressed the opinion that it
is time wasted to make cheap Christmas
presents, saying that such were thrown
away, or burnt as trash, another CORES
pendent of the Rural Ne,0 Yorker
writes as follows:
But you say if you give, give use
full things. By all means, but remem-
Der farmers daughters purse has
bottom to it, and it is not very far down
either. We are obliged to give only
one or two moderately expensive pres
ents, or divide up and get several mex
pensive ones. Books are nice gifts,
but we cannot all afford to buy them.
If we desire to give something for a
keepsake" an "aprOn or pair of
stockings " are not any better than a
hair-receiver, so far as the durability is
concerned, for they both wear out if
put to use, the former much sooner
than the latter, and besides, little,
simple articles, such as hair-receivers,
watch-cases, slipper-cases, and the
numerous other cases that go to make
up the list of Objectionable " landau
Cos and gewgaws," are not nearly so
expensive as aprons, stockings, mittens
and books. Thus you see we can call
forth grateful feelings from more per-
sons with less money.
The Mrs. Jackson you cited as an
example is an exception to the general
rule: her better nature failed to be
moved by the little tokens of affection.
No doubt in her haste to destroy the
" trash - she burnt thousands of
stitches that were wrought by love. 1t
seems to me these little homemade
articles are worth far more as memen-
toes than boughten ones, for the very
reason that loving hands have made
them.
Is it wasted time to make grandpa
case TO hang in some warm, convenient
place, that his slippers may be out of
the reach of baby's mischievous hands,
and where they are always ready for
use?
Is it a waste of time to fashion
bright little pocket that your glasses,
grandma, may hang where you can
find them when wanted?
Is it waste of time to prepare
papa's shaving-papers, and thus save
him the trouble of hunting his own?
Is it waste of time to make mamma a
hair-receiver where, in her hurried
morning toilet, she can deposit her
combings, instead of being obliged to
run to the fire to burn them, and then
back again to wash her hands?
Lastly, doesn't it amount to some
thing to keep the great ocean current
of love at blood-heat, that our hearts
may not be chilled by this cruel, selfish
world?
Dear grandma, won't you please con-
slider this subject again, and see if you
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1885-11-04

WHEN the managers of agricultural
fairs seek out politicians to deliver adj
dresses to the farmers they usually get
a very poor or very inappropriate
article. We recollect of one United
States senator who, in such an address,
strongly recommended an hydraulic
ram to his hearers for the improvement
of our native sheep. But in Vermont
many of our public men are good farm
ers, and can be relied upon for instruc-
tive teaching from the fair ground
stand. Among these is General Will
lam w. Grout, our east-side congress-
man, of whom the Newport Express
says, truthfully, that his recent speech
at the Barton fair was zone of the
most practical, one of the best we ever
heard on such an occasion. He dwelt
quite at length upon the Importance to
farmer of broader, better educa-
ton in botany, geology, mineralogy
ornithology, and especially chemistry,
pointing out the province and necessity
of each. He made strong plea for a
better education, the establishment of
experimental schools and their patron
age by young farmers. He compared
our country with others, and proved
clearly the great advantages resulting
from our free land system. He be-
lieved that farming could be made more
lucrative by careful management, in
saving all natural fertilizers upon the
farm, by economy in all expenses, by
habits of industry and by total absti-
nence from tobacco and all intoxicating
drinks.'
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1885-11-04
Questions.

Dear Household AS the time for
killing pigs will soon be here, would
like to ask if any of your readers can
tell me of good way to use the pigs
head other than to make it into head
cheese? We do not like that very well.
Perhaps others would like to know, too.
In this climate it is difficult to keep
fresh meat, so l take the lean frying
pieces, slice and fry them, and pack
down in lard. They will keep till spring,
if not eaten before.
Mrs. j. g., Suffer Creek, Cal.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1885-11-04
From a Maine Fruit Grower.

Mr.. Editor Il am much interested
in your articles upon fruit. / should
like to make some comments and ask
some questions. Your experience has
been almost exactly mine, only you are
three to five years ahead of me. If l
had read your letter in our agricultu-
raj report, some eight or ten years
ago, / should never have raised five
hundred crab-apple trees to set in or
chards and graft in the limbs. l fear in
the end the experiment will be fail
ure. One question here which may in.
terest Peter Gideon. If there is no ST.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1885-11-04

WILLIAM DoRKIN of Sharon, Conn.
writes to the Homestead that he "got
one statement from its local columns
from Vermont which spoke of a great
drouth there and the fact that stock was
low. went right there and bought a
lot of cattle and cleared $500 by selling
them in this section" 1t seems to US
that the Vermonters might have done
better than that. Couldn't they have
taken their own cattle down there and
sold them?
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1885-11-04
Patterns Wanted.

Dear HouSehOld:-I used, in other
years, to be constant contributor to
the household departments of the
Messenger and other papers, and have
been trying ever since you made your
appearance to find time to write you;
but have found my own household
matters as much, and sometimes more,
than 1 could well manage, and have
found but little time for writing. /
have become warm friend of yours,
however, and so come to you for help.
Can any sister furnish one or all of
these patterns-Infant's shirt, high
necked and long-sleeved; infants robe
dress; infants "Mother Hubbard "
dress; infants "Kate Greenaway
dress? 1 would gladly pay postage and
trouble, or would give in exchange
good work-apron pattern, or an in
fant's slip pattern, suitable for night or
day dresses, or pieces of print for charm
quilt. If there were printed directions
with the patterns, 1 would like writ
ten copy. Please answer through the
columns of the WATERMAN, or DR..
Hoskins would forward letter to me.
If this does not find repose in the
depths of the waste-basket will write
again soon, when 1 do not need to ask
favor. Now, sisters, one and all, let
us join hands and sustain that part of
the paper designed for our special bene-
fit. 1t will do you good to tear your
self away from work and "play" you
are back in the palmy days of girlhood,
before the cares of life came so heavily
upon your shoulders. LELLIs.
REMARKS BY EDIToR.-We should
be glad to forward correspondence as
above suggested, but as we shall be alb
sent from Vermont most of the time
for the next three months, that would
not be possible. We therefore take the
liberty of saying that Lellis may be
addressed at South Walden, Vt.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1885-11-04

AN exchange says: "We have re-
Gently seen field of corn with pota-
toes planted between every row. The
potato vines looked very thrifty and
nearly covered the ground. We were
unable to learn in how far the yield of
the one crop was influenced by the
presence of the other, but do believe
that by planting two rows of corn and
two of potatoes, alternately, the yield
would be larger than if each vegetable
were planted by itself on one-half the
field. The potatoes get little shade,
the corn a little more sun and air."
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1885-11-04
A New Potato and a New Apple.

Mr.. Editor Il take the liberty to
send you by express, charges paid,
specimens of new potato and also a
kind of apple not generally known,
which 1 think have merits. Please
test and compare and report in the
WATCHNAN.
The Polaris potato is sport of the
Early Rose. Four years from starting
true to form and color. Superior in
quality to the Red Rose and more uni
form in size and in ripening, and more
prolific and full as early to ripen. 1t
has yielded this year, with ordinary
field culture, over five hundred bushels
to the acre.
The apple is supposed to be seed
ling. The original tree was an old one
fifty years ago. That and those grated
from it are very hardy and great bear
ers. Season, from December to March.
Please test and say if it is a desirable
kind, and if so, give it a name.
II. F. SMITH.
Waterbury, Vermont.
REPLY BY AGRICULTURAL EDITOR.-
The potatoes were all tested as re-
quested, and were declared by all at
the table to be far better than the
Early Rose, in which opinion we fully
concur, and hope Mr.. Smith will fulfill
his promise to send us some for seed.
For a sport from the Rose they re-
semble the parent very little, being of
a regular, long oval shape, smooth,
creamy-white in color, sound, white
fleshed, even in cooking, mealy, and of
fine flavor. We know of no potato that
surpasses this one in good qualities for
market, or for table use.
The apples sent are of medium size
round, yellow, striped with light red
much like Duchess of Oldenburgh
They are not yet sufficiently mature
for fair test as to quality, but they
have tender flesh, with a mild sub.
acid taste and pleasant though not very
marked flavor. With a tree of the
character described we should regard
them as very promising apple to plan
for market, or for home use. We dc
not identify them with any apple W.
have seen before, but suggest tina
samples be sent to l.. M. Macomber O
North Ferrisburgh, VT, who is wei
acquainted with the apples of tn,
J Champlain valley. 1t will be tim,
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1885-11-04
agricultural.
T. n. HOSkINS, M. D., Editor,
Newport, Vermont.

LovETT's ORCHARD AND GARDEN,
published monthly at Little Silver, N.
j., at fifty cents year, is full of prac-
tical instruction for farmers and gar
deners. Its contributors are all prac-
tical men. Our readers know that we
are not lavish or indiscriminate in our
praise of such publications. For many
of them are very trashy.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1885-11-04
advertisements.
HEREDITARY
SCROFULA.

A RE you aware that in your blood the
~ faint Of scrofula has a prominent
place? This is true of every one. 1t is lia-
BILE at any time, on the slightest provocaton,
to develop itself in some insidious disease.
Consumption and many other diseases are
outgrowtlis of this impurity of the blood.
HOODS SARSAPARfLLA mas wonderful
power over all scrOfulOus troubles, as the re-
markable testimonials we have received
Enthusiastically prove.
MEssRs. c. I. HOOP & Co.: Gentlemen
My youngest son has always been
troubled with Scrofulous Humor; sores in
his head discharging from his ears, and q rum
ming sore on the back of his ear for two
years; his eyelids would tester and ulcerate.
discharging so that was obliged to wash
them open every morning. his eyelashes
dainty, most of the time eating but two slight
meals day. We We're unable to find any
thing that had the least effect upon him till
last spring. 1876, we gave him two bottles of
Hoods arsaparila. Hisappetite improved
at once. The back Of his ear healed
up without n scar, and not a sore in his head
since. Sincerely yours s.xnon
No. 10S Merrimack St., Lowell, Mass.
ave do not as a rule allow ourselves to
use our editorial columns to speak of any
remedy we advertise. but we feel warranted
in saying a word for Hoods Sarsaparila.
Sarsaparila has been known as remedial
agent for centuries and is recognized by all
schools of practice as a valuable blood pur-
fer. 1t Is put up in forms of almost infinite
variety. but Messrs. Hood & Co., NOwell
Mass.l who are thoroughly reliable pharma-
cists, have hit upon remedy of unusual
value. Certainly they have vouchers of
cures which we know to be most extraor-
binary. "-Editors LoweH Weekly Journal.
HOOD',S .SARSAPARULI
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1885-11-04
Gbe 4uuseboIo.

~ Communications for this column should be
sent to the agricultural editor, DIR. Hoskins at
Newport VT