The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1886-01-20
Farm and Garden Notes.

TIIE agricultural value OF fertilizers
is just what the users, in each case, are
enabled to make them worth.
PHosPuoRIC acid and potash will not
leach through the soil and waste, like nj
tfogen, but will be slowerin dissolving.
THE ability of certain varieties of
potatoes to withstand rot is matter
worthy of careful observation. But no
potato is entirely rot-proof.
IT is laid down as maxim that
abundant feeding is saving, while
scanty feeding is waste. But mix
some thought with this rule.
AS a rule, beets produce decided in
crease in the yield of butter, and make
it yellower, but do not augment the per-
centage of cream in the milk.
CoRN-AND-CoB meal lies lighter in
the stomach and is more easily and
quickly digested than unmixed meal.
There is also some nutriment in the
cob itself. q
The nutrient properties in the grain
of corn are passed to the grain through
the cob. When gathered in an imma-
ture state, the cob is loaded with nu-
tritious matter on its way to the kernels
of grain.
New ENGLAND creamery butter is
forging ahead. 1t would speedily take
the commanding position in the Boston
and New York markets if enough of it
was sold in those marts to figure
prominently.
COMMERCIAL sulphate of ammonia
contains about twenty parts in one
hundred of nitrogen, and nitrate of
soda about sixteen parts in one hun
dred, the latter costing in market less
than the former.
Il WESTERN farmer, who signed an
order for two cans, five gallons each,
of "New York Roofing Compound"
just to introduce it, was obliged to re-
ceive two casks, one hundred gal
Ions, price $167. Sign nothing for a
stranger.
SOME idea of the vast amount of capt.
tai invested in farming tools in this
country may be gained from the fact,
shown by the last census, that the value
of agricultural implements manufac-
tured in the United States in single
year was SOS, 64O, 436.
IT has been often said that any Ounce
would do for farmer. Those who in
dulge such an idea make great mis-
take. The very opposite is true. 1t
requires bright, intelligent and pro-
gressive man to make truly successful
farmer in these days.
IT is estimated by Professor E. w.
Stewart that the annual crop of cotton
seed of this country is worth $40 200, 900
as food for animals after the oil, which
is of equal value, has been extracted.
This ought to make stock breeding
profitable in the South.
PROFESSOR E. M. SHELTON reports
that all the cattle upon the Kansas
Agricultural College Farm are fed
corn-and-cob meal, as the result of ex-
periments, carried through two years,
(Which satisfied us of its great supe-
riority over clear corn meal"
"THERE is large amount of long
cultivated soil in this country which is
only rich enough to grow crops that
never pay very large profits per acre."
says Ben: Perley Poore, " but men will
find out how to make most of these
soils do better in the near future"
AS rule, farmers in this country do
not excel in exact business methods.
They keep on in ruts, content to take
the result of losses in simpler and less
expensive habits of living, instead of
trying means to avoid losses that are
the result of improvident methods.
AFTER all, if meadows are to be top
dressed, the best time of year to do the
work, looking to results alone, is in
early winter, and the manure should be
spread when drawn. 1t then gets a
covering of snow, and the soakage is at
least as well distributed as the manure
itself.
FIFTEEN years ago little company
of fifty Swedish colonists came to
Maine, sailed up the st. John River
and made a home in the Aroostook
wilderness. There are now nearly
LOO in the colony of New Sweden
with two churches, six schools and
many well-tilled farms.
THIS is the time to be sure that the
bees have ample stores to carry them
through. This is easily ascertained,
for we always have few warm days
in February and March, when the ex-
act condition of each colony as regards
stores can be found out by an examin-
alton, and if any are found wanting
their wants can easily be supplied
THOUSANDS of acres of light, level
lands around us, producing less than a