davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1888-04-18
How a Horses Feet Grow.

" The horn of horses foot grows
more rapidly in warm, dry climates than
in cold, wet ones; in healthy, energetic
animals than in those that are soft and
weakly; in exercise than in repairs: in
young than in old animals" Thus dis
courses the author of Artistic Horse
shoeing," who furthermore saws:
Food, labor and shoeing also add their
influence, while the seasons are to some
extent concerned in the growth and
shape of the hoof. In winter it widens,
becomes softer and grows but little; in
summer it is condensed, becomes more
rigid, concave and resisting, is exposed
to severer wear and grows more rapidly.
This variation is a provision of nature
to enable the hoof to adapt itself to the
altered conditions it has to meet-hard
horn to hard ground, soft horn to soft
ground. In this way is accounted for
the influence OF locality upon the shape
of the foot. On hard, dry ground the
foot is dense, tenacious and small, with
concave sole, and little but firm frog:
in marshy regions it is large and spread
ing, the horn soft and easily destroyed
by wear, the sole thin and fiat, the frog
an immense spongy mass which is badly
fitted to receive pressure from slightly
hardened soil. In dry climate we
have an animal small, compact, wiry
and vigorous, travelling on surface
which demands tenacious hoof and
not one adapted to prevent sinking; in
the marshy region we have large,
Emphatic creature, one of whose pri-
mary requirements is foot designed
to travel on soft, yielding surface
Change the respective situations of
these two horses and nature immedi-
ately begins to transform them and
their feet
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1888-04-18
That Dairy Cartoon.

We have received from Raymond,
Dakota, the following concerning our
comments on the dairy cartoon, which
tends to show that other farmers hold
the same opinion of it as we do: 81
take the liberty of writing you to say
how much l appreciate your criticism
of the Rural Ne,o- Workers. dairy car
toon. l consider your statement at
once clear, concise and unanswerable.
The quotation in your letter from the
RurapS comments on the cartoon is the
variest nonsense or fudge that ever was
printed. The R,wapS reply is long
winded, tortuous and everywhere but
to the point, and in the sound and fury
it finds a hole to crawl out. l felt so
strongly on the subject l was bound to
write somebody"
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1888-04-18
The Hired Man.

This is the day when 1.-the hired
man" who is engaged to work on
farm for the season reports for duty,
provided, of course, that there is some
where farm on which such relic of
bygone age as the hired man is to be
found this year. What an institution
he used to be in the days when we were
young! A thoroughbred Yankee; not
drop of imported blood in his veins;
strong and 1.-THE and active and tire
less; intelligent and fairly well educated;
skilled in business, and, as a rule, in
dustrious beyond the belief of this ten
hour generation. From the time he
drove his axe into the wood-pile in the
door-yard on the LIST of April until the
close of the season, after harvesting, he
expected to work, and he did work-not
from sun to sun, but from dawn to dark
ness, and then did the milking and fed
the pigs afterwards. His day was four
teen, fifteen, even sixteen hours long,
and it never occurred to him that it
should be shorter He was no special
list. He could do anything. He was
smart with scythe, handy with hoe,
cute with a cradle and experienced
Wlln all axe. lie knew now muCll grain
and grass-seed were required to the
acre, when grass was fit to cut and
when it was dry enough to $50 in"
and he did not need to be told when to
drop turnip-seed in the corn-feld or
how to put corn in the shock. He
could build wall, make cider, shingle
the barn, make hay-rack or doctor a
sick hog 1t was safe to leave him to
work alone. And he got for his serv-
ices ten, twelve, possibly fifteen dollars
month for eight months, and saved
three-fourths of it. Then, when he
had worked eight or ten seasons and
accumulated few hundred dollars, he
probably married "the hired girl" who
had been at work for dollar a week
and saved half of that, bought farm,
got out of debt little by little, educated
his children and sent them to the city
to preach or to practice law, or work in
the store or shop, while he stayed on
the old homestead and saw it grow up
to bushes.-MirrOr and Farmer.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1888-04-18
Mice and BOrerS.

The use of tar paper is no sure pro-
lection against mice or borers. Wood
ashes placed around the tree (not
against the trunk will prove prevent
alive. Mice will not eat the bark of
tree from preference, but only when
everything else fails. One of our or
chardists places grain in the hollows
every season, believing it to pay, as
this method keeps the mice away from
the trees. They will gather and nest
where the grain is strewed. One of my
neighbors lost nearly one hundred trees
last season from mice. He had tried
various methods, but without success.
Grafting-wax put on to the trunks
will prevent these pests from injuring
the trees. This has been tried by many
and with the desired success. The first
SHOWS should be carefully trod around
the trees for distance of four or five
feet. RURAL.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1888-04-18
Aaritultural.
A New Version of the Inter-
state Law.

A late issue of the Rural Vermonter
gives the following very remarkable ex-
PLANTATION of the force and effect of the
interstate commerce law: Under the
interstate law our through lines can not
charge more for a carload of beans or
apples from the West than from Yer
mont station, but it can charge just as
much, and vastly disproportionate
rate, on smaller quantities" 1t will
be rather startling information to
the commissioners that the law forbids
charging more for a long haul than for a
short one. The exact opposite of this
statement is true, and the item shows
the RurapS reckless way of dealing
with facts.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1888-04-18
Watering Heated Horses.

Most farmers know the danger of
laundering horses by allowing them to
drink, unrestrainedly, after being
warmed by working or fast driving
The danger is greatest when the water
is coolest. 1t is the sudden chill of
cold water on a heated stomach that
does the mischief. Water in spring
is chilled from melting ice long after
the air has been warmed above the
freezing point. All through the sum-
mer and until quite late in the fall
water is colder than the air If the
water is warmed up to near the tenn
perature of the animal, it may be drank
without injury. Horses at work have
little time at noon to cool off and will
eat better after a drink of water
warmed enough to take the chill off.
This can be given without danger of
injury if made warm enough.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1888-04-18

THE FRAUDULENT USE OF ALUM AND LIME
IN CHEAP BAKING POWDERS.
If consumers prefer to buy an adul-
terated article of food because it can be
had at a lower price they undoubtedly
have the right to do so, provided the
adulterants are not of character in
furious to health. If such articles are
not falsely sold as pure and the Gus
toner is not deceived as to their real
character, the transaction is not illegiti-
mate. But the great danger in the
traffic in adulterated food arises from
the deception that is practiced by manu-
facturers usually CHASING such goods as
pure. This is almost invariably done
when the adulterant is one that is inju-
rious to health. For instance, manu-
facturers of alum and lime baking
powders not only fail to inform the
public of the real character of their
goods, but carefully conceal the fact
that they are made from these poison
Gus articles. Most of these manufac-
turers also claim that their articles
are pure and wholesome, while some
go still further and proclaim boldly that
they are cream of tartar goods, or
cNcu tuc Schulhc IVY III pdhiiS wv
der itself. No consumer will buy alum
baking powders knowingly, for it is
well understood that they are detri-
mental to health. The sale of lime
and alum baking powders as pure and
wholesome articles is, therefore, Grim
inal, and it is satisfactory to notice that
several persons engaged in such sale
have already been brought to justice in
the courts. The official analysts have
recently been active in the pursuit of
these dishonest articles. The baking
powders of several states have been
carefully and critically examined. The
officials are surprised at the large
amount of lime and alum goods found.
1t is suggestive fact that no baking
powder except the Royal has been found
without either lime or alum, and many
contain both. DR.. Prices baking
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1888-04-18
How to Cure Calf.Skins.

Carroll S. Page, Esq, of Hyde Park,
who probably handles more calf-skins
than any other man in New England, if
not in the United States, gives the fol-
lowing directions for taking off and
curing dairy calf-skins: CD Slit the
skin from the brisket to the jaw, and
skin down each side enough so that the
throat can be cut without cutting the
skin crosswise, as in this way the cheek
of the skin is saved, while if it is cut in
the least across the throat the head is
worthless. An experienced butcher
may stick by direct thrust of the knife
near the breast-bone, the same as a
hog is usually stuck. (2) Slit the skin
from the brisket to the tail. (3) Cut
around the foot close to the hoof, and
slit the legs from the hoof to the belly,
taking care in Sitting the legs to COM
mence between the dewclaws; slit di-
rectly over the gambrel and knee so
that the leg, when skinned, will lay fiat
instead of leaving a pocket, which can
not be finished into leather. az Skin
the head and forward legs carefully.
90 Fasten the head and forward legs
with strong cord or chain to something
solid. Fastening the legs with the head
will prevent the head from tearing off i,
and will ordinarily prevent tearing the
chin Than factan or I,r
means of slip-knot, around the neck
of the skin, and by man or horse
power, or windlass, draw off the skin
without further use of knife, thereby
avoiding those holes, cuts and scratches
which so much iniure the skin. Skins
taken off in accordance with the above
directions and cured and cared for as di-
rected below are worth from ten to fifteen
cents per skin more than lot taken off
and cared for in the ordinary way. Co
AS soon as taken off lay the skin fiat
upon the floor, in cool place where
the sun does not shine upon it, and
cover it with good coating of fine or
coarse-fne salt. Coarse will do, but il
is not so good. Don't roll up the skin.
Don't dry it, but let it remain green,
and when you take off the next place
1t fiat upon the first, sailing as before.
Pile skin on skin in this way, and when
ready to sell you will find them in nice
condition and worth from ten TO fifteen
cents more than the same skins would
have been if poorly taken off and cared
for. Use salt freely. What the skin
does not require will shake off wher
you sell your lot and answer just az
\ well for the next skins you take off
Skins should not in warm weather
yen when carefully put down as above
ected, lay in salt over thirty days
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1888-04-18
EARLY Sowing of Grass.Seed.

Farmers are every year learning the
Importance of sowing grass-seed and
clover-seed very early. 1t is best to
seed when the ground is frozen and
when still further frosts may be ex-
pected. The surface is then damp and
the fine seeds are covered sufficiently
to insure their roofing after they ger
inmate. 1t is better even to tramp
over the fields through the mud than to
wait for the surface to become dry.
Generally, however, there are light
frosts at night at this season, and the
sowing can best be done on still morn
ings before the mud has thawed. The
reason why grass-seed sowing must be
earlier now than formerly is because
vegetable matter in the soil decreases
with continued cultivation, and this
prevents it from holding moisture as
long as it used to do. If grass-seed
does not get rooted early it is quite apt
to dry out and perish when dry weather
comes. -Americon Cultivator.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1888-04-18

powder has been found to contain
nearly twelve per cent of lime; Cleve-
lands, eleven per cent of impurities;
the phosphate powders, over twelve per
cent of lime. The chief service of
lime is to add weight. 1t is true that
lime, when subjected to heat, gives off
a certain amount of carbonic acid gas,
but quick-lime is left-a caustic of
most powerful nature. A small guam
tity of dry lime upon the tongue or in
the eye produces painful effects. How
much more serious must these effects
be on the delicate membranes of the
stomach, intestines and kidneys, more
particularly of infants and children,
and especially when lime is taken into
the system day after day and with al
most every meal. This is said by physi-
clans to be one of the causes of indi-
gestion, dyspepsia and those painful
diseases of the kidneys now so preva-
lent. Adulteration with lime is quite
as much to be dreaded as with alum,
which has heretofore received the most
emphatic condemnation from food an
alysts, physicians and chemists, for the
reason that, while alum may be par
TALLY dissolved by the heat of baking, it
is impossible to destroy or change the
nature of the lime, so that the entire
amount in the baking powder passes,
with all itsinjurious properties, into the
stomach. The large profits from the
manufacture of lime and alum baking
powders has placed many of them
in the market. They are to be found
in the stock of almost every retail
dealer and are urged upon custom
ers calling for baking powders upon
all occasions. Because of their we'll
known detrimental character it is
desirable that prompt means be taken
to suppress their manufacture. Pure
baking powders are one of the chief
aids to the cook in preparing per-
feet and wholesome food. While those
are to be obtained of well-established
reputation, like the Royal, of whose
purity there has never been question :,
it is proper to avoid all others.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1888-04-18
Attention to Stock.

The spring is critical period with
stock upon the farm. A little neglect
at this season may result in such an en-
feebled condition as will require all the
summer to restore to state of normal
strength and activity. For this reason
the best of care should be shown to all
classes of animals; invigorating food
should be provided and in sufficient
quantity. 1t is frequently at this season,
for fear of want of supply, that feeding
is restricted, and instead of good,
strengthening food that of an inferior
quality is employed to bridge over the
scarcity. There is nothing that can be
done that is more disastrous to the best
interests of farmers than to pursue such
a course. If any profit is expected to
be realized from keeping animals it
can only come by careful attention and
liberal feeding.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1888-04-18

stands in the way of the destruction by
the legislative department of the CON
stitutional guarantees of liberty and
property. The answer to this argument,
it holds, is that the judiciary depart
ment is bound not to give effect to
statutory enactments that are plainly
by the Constitution. The OBJ
lection that the statute denies the equal
protection of the laws is also held to be
untenable for the reason that the same
penalties and burdens are imposed
upon all persons engaged in the same
business. Judgment affirmed. Opin-
ion by Justice Harlan, Justice Field
dissenting. boston Journal.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1888-04-18
Planting Trees.

Plant nothing but good thrifty trees,
and remember to cut away all broken
or bruised roots caused by transporta-
ton. Do not crowd, but carefully
spread out, the remaining roots when
placing the tree in the soil. Sprinkle
the dirt well over and through all ten
der shutes. Have the hole large enough
to give plenty of room, for if the roots
are doubled or crowded the tree will not
grow as readily as you might wish. Set
in line and about thirty feet apart.
Lowlands are detrimental to orchard
ing. The side-hill, with southern or
southeastern cant, is far the best for
fruit-trees in the New England States,
as it will give natural drainage, and in
spring-time the snow disappears earlier,
the ground warns up and the trees
will be seen to move forward much
sooner than those so placed as to re-
ceive less sun and in reach of strong
northern blasts. The fruit will ripen
earlier and be of a better flavor and
richer color. Again, the trees, when
loaded with fruit, will not be broken
down as they would could the winds
strike them more forcibly. l find in
Maine that the best orchards are on
land as l have described, and from ex-
perience l know the location has a
great deal to do with the profits or
losses of an orchard. RURAL.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1888-04-18
Brief Notes.

CHEAP seed is often expensive.
PICS and poultry are profitable.
GOOD seed and good culture pay.
PEAS sprout at forty-five degrees.
LET no brute handle your brutes.
SECURE pure water for home use.
DON'T fail to have a good garden.
CLEAR and thorough culture tells.
TAME hens are the most profitable.
ALLOW no cobwebs in your stables.
FOUL stables will sickcn the horses
GIVE your waste meat to your fowls.
SOWING foul seed may bring to need.
A CHUBBY SOW makes poor breeder.
BABY lambs and calves need good
care.
SUCCULENT food makes succuent
milk.
STABLES should certainly be cleaned
daily.
STARVING hens make lean egg
basket.
LET strange peddlers and agents
move on.
MILK for pigs and calves should be
fed warm.
Do not plant till the ground is dry
and warm.
GOOD hay comes nearest being good
cattle food.
EWES should never be yarded with
other stock.
DO not plow heavy soils when they
are very moist.
CONFINE the number of acres to
your ability to till.
TRIM dead wood out in currant and
gooseberry bushes.
BUTTER unfit for table use is not fit
for cooking purposes.
THoUGH fat pork eats more than
lean, it is not so good.
IT is not well to allow cattle and
swine to run together.
NOT enough competent veterinary
surgeons in the country.
KEEP your cows good by regular feed
ing, watering and sailing
PRUNE grape-vines to two az. three
buds of last years growth. II
DON'T breed from small or scrub
animals this presidential year.
THE rudiments of agriculture should
be taught in primary schools.
GOOD corn-stalks, well cured, are
about equal to hay for mich cows.
Do not allow water to stand about the
roots of evergreens and fruit-trees.
PLANT the quick-growing Virginia
creeper around trellises and out-houses.
CLEAN your fleeces of sheep-ticks
before warm weather sets them breed
ing
ATTEND to the ventilation of your
stables, especially in mild or warm
weather.
YOUNG chickens need nothing to eat
the first twenty-four hours after leaving
the nest.-F'drm and Garden.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1888-04-18
An Important Decision.

On the 9th of April the United States
supreme court rendered an opinion
in case No. S14-Wiliam L. Powell,
plaintiff in error, rs. Commonwealth
of Pennsylvania, commonly known as
the oleomargarine case" in error to
the supreme court of PENNSYLVANIA.
This case brings up for review judy
ment of the supreme court of Penn
sylvania sustaining the validity of a
statute of that commonwealth making
it unlawful for any person to manufac-
ture, sell or offer for sale, any butter or
cheese, or article designed to take the
place of these articles, produced from
any compound other than unadulter-
ated milk or cream The plaintiff was
convicted of violation of this statute
and took an appeal, basing it on the
ground that the statute was in violation
OF the fourteenth amendment to the
Constitution, and that the article sold
was new invention, not deleterious to
the public health. The court holds
that it is entirely within the police
powers of the state to protect the pub
lie health, and that the questions
whether the manufacture of oleomar-
garine is or may be conducted in such q
way as to involve such danger to the
public health as to require the suppress
sion of the business rather than its
regulation are questions of fact and of
public policy which belong to the legis-
lative department to determine. If all
that can be said of this legislation is
that it is unwise, or unnecessarily OPP
pressive, their appeal must be to the
legislature or to the ballot-box, not to
the judiciary. The court also says it
can not assent to the argument that if
this statute is sustained then nothing
tsEE FIFTH COLUMN
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1888-04-18

forty years ought to know salt from
sugar. Read what he says
TOLEDO, o., January 10, 1887.
MeSSrs. +. j. Cheney d Co.:
GENTLEMEN have been in the
general practice of medicine for most
forty years, and would say that in all
my practice and experience | have
never seen preparation that | could
prescribe with as much confidence of
success as | can Halls Catarrh Cure,
manufactured by you. Have prescribed
it great many times and its effect is
wonderful. would say, in conclusion,
that l have yet to find case of catarrh
that it would not cure if they would
take it according to directions.
Yours truly,
l.. l.. GORsUCH, M. D.,
Office 2l5 Summit Street.
We will give one hundred dollars for
any case of catarrh that can not be cured
with Halls Catarrh Cure. Taken in
ternally.
f. j. CHENEY & Co.,
Proprietors, Toledo, Ohio.
"a" Sold by druggists at seventy-fve
cents.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1888-04-18

without handling, so as to expose them
to the air, but in handling be very care
full to repack in the same manner as at
first, adding little fresh salt at each
rehandling."
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1888-04-18
For Sale.

in Barre, is offered for sale win sell one.half in
terest to the right parties, or the whole Reasons
for selling made known to purchaser. Address
w. G. JONES, Box 1871, Barre, VT.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1888-04-18

persons under the that
1l pensve and intended for the of the wealthy The
the price lower than for ordinary soaps quality
dered for in the "Ivoy "cheapeners "makeweghts
used the buyer gets all soap for her money Its
harmessness durability and efficiency admit of its being used for
purposes with equal satisfaction and economy the families
of the rich poor.
WORD OF WARNING.
There many white soaps represented be just good the o
they ARE NOT but like all couerfs lack peculiar and remarkable qualities
Of the genuine Ask for Ivory" Soap and insist upon getting it
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1888-04-18

MEMS great actions are performed
in minor struggles.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1888-04-18

A MAN who has practiced medicine for
forty years ought to know salt from
sugar. Read what he says;
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1888-04-18
Dangerous Food AdulteratiOn.

THE FRAUDULENT USE OF ALUM AND LIME
IN CHEAP BAKING POWDERS.