davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1889-01-30
Editorial NOtings.

THE Maine Farmer says: Forty
varieties of potatoes used for seed at
the Experiment Station at Orono, three
years ago, produced potatoes every
variety of which was too scabby to be
shown. That same seed planted next
year, and in another field on the same
farm, produced fine crop, without the
appearance of scab on single variety"
This is one of the very few cases where
il is more in the lend than it is in the
man. 1t is pretty well settled that the
presence of much vegetable matter in
the soil attracts the insects which lay
the eggs which produce the worms
whose nibblng causes the scabbing of
potatoes. The conclusion naturally is
that ii is best to plant potatoes on land
free from undecayed vegetable matter
and to manure them with something
other than dung.
WE are sometimes met. when pro-
pounding the above theory of scabbing,
by the assertion that fair potatoes are
often grown on land dressed with
stable manure, and still oftener on
freshly-turned sod. Undoubtedly. I'm
less the insects are also present to lay
the eggs, there will be no worms to
scab the potatoes. But it is getting
more and more risky to depend upon
their absence.
Iris much the same way with turnips,
though the cases are not quite alike.
Turnips are made hard and knotty by
the gnawing of worms of another kind,
and only on new ground is it safe to at
tempt to grow nice table turnips. This
is, however, merely a case of lodging
the worms, because the turnip-hy is
attracted by the turnip-plant, and its
Larvae feed only on the turnip, or re-
lated plants. But with the worms
which cause scabbing on potatoes it is
supposed that their principal food,
and that which attracts the mother in
sect, is the undecayed dung, or sod,
which is the principal food of the
Larvae that gnaw the potatoes merely by
way of variety.
If it be asked, "WAat is this potato
gnawing insect?" the reply must be
that the matter is not quite settled; but
the general conclusion seems TO be that
it is one or several of the class COM
monty called wire-worms." Ger
tainly, wire-worms are always abun-
dant in the soil where potatoes are
much scabbed They are, indeed,
when very plentiful, not always salts
fed with nibbling the skins of the
potatoes, but also bore into them to
considerable depth. The subject needs
more careful investigation than has yet
been given to it.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1889-01-30
ApOplexy in Swine.

Apoplexy is usually a disease of fat
hogs, although an animal that has long
been thin or suffering from excessive
irritation of the intestinal canal would
also be predisposed to it. 1t must be
understood that the process of fatten-
ing an animal in few weeks destroys
the equilibrium of the system, and in
one sense the fairness is in itself dis
ease. The storing up of fat in the ami
NAL economy is always at the expense
of muscular development. The muscles
become weak and habby. All the
blood-vessels of the system are sur
rounded by strong, tough, muscular
coat that in a state of perfect health
will resist any force that the hearts
action can put upon these canals. But
the fattening process weakens these
libers; a sudden or unusual strain rup-
lures one in the brain, and we call it
apopleXy. 1t is not as common in the
hog as one would expect, but occurs so
often that the breeder should under
stand it and know the right thing to do
1t is impossible to foresee when this is
going to occur. If the rupture is very
small one, when the blood is oozing out
in tiny drops the hog will sometimes
be found lying iusensible and breathing
heavily. No effort will arouse it. 1t
is more usual to find big fat hog lying
dead, with no external marks or signs
of the cause of death. Cut open the
skull carefully, and clot of blood of
greater or less extent will be found in
side. If alive, however, tie a stout
cord above the knee and with stick
take twist in the cord until on the
inner side of the leg, below the
knee, the brachial vein can be felt.
Open it with sharp-pointed knife,
and if the blood will run take a pint
and half or a quart. Don't guess at
it. An ounce of blood spread over the
ground or on the floor has been mis-
taken for pint. If the bleeding is to
do any good, there must be considerable
taken. If the broken vein is a small
one, and the case is observed soon after
it occurred, the animal may be saved.
If it partially revives it will be proper
to evacuate the bowels. a large stock
syringe would be valuable here to throw
up quart of warm water. In most
cases, however, the owner will have a
chance to sell the animal for soap-fat.-
American AqiicUltuiSt
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1889-01-30
Whence Came the Potato

The late Professor Orion says the So
called Irish " potato is native of the
Andes Mountains. His statement is
not original. 1t was made by the early
Spanish explorers and missionaries
early in the sixteenth century. The
generally-accepted theory is that the
potato was introduced into Spain by
the Spaniards from the neighborhood
of Quito, and that from Spain it soon
spread into the Netherlands, Burgundy
and Italy. How it got into North
America is not known, but it is gen
orally supposed to have been introduced
by the Spaniards soon after the con-
quest of Mexico; for, so far as | know,
it has never been claimed that it was
found in a wild state north of the
Isthmus of Panama. 1t was introduced
into Ireland for the first time in 1865
from Virginia by Sir John Hawkins, a
slave-trader, and in confirmation of the
theory that it is indigenous to the
Andean districts of South America, /
may state that | have myself seen it
growing wild in various parts of the
interior of Colombia. And yet the
Irish potato has been used as an
article of food in China from time i'm
memorial. You see it everywhere, from
Canton to Pekin and from Shanghai to
the most western limits of the vast
empire, and | never saw a Chinaman
who would admit that it had not
originated in his own country. II
fact, | have been assured by some
Jesuit missionaries who penetrated to
the far interior of the mountain dis
tricts that it is sometimes seen in wild
state near the borders of southern
Thibet. Why should it not have been
indigenous to both continents? The
same conditions of climate and soil that
would produce it in the mountains of
tropical and sub-tropical America would,
it would seem, produce it in Asia, and
it is probable that the peoples of beth
continents used it as an article of food
ages before they were aware of each
others existence. Next to rice, it is
to-day the chief article of food in China
and Japan, and in many parts of Asia
it is much relied upon by the COM
mon people, as it is in Ireland or in
Ecuador.-W. L, ScruggS, in Southern
CultiUdtOr.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1889-01-30
Improbable Cows.

Several times, during the past ten
years, we have called the attention of
our readers in these columns, and of
our brother farmers in their assem-
blages, to the great loss entailed upon
them by keeping so many cows that do
not pay their way. 1t is high time that
this question should be thoroughly dis
cussed. If it is fact that the imme-
date death of large part of the dairy
cows of Vermont would be a profit to
their owners, then owners ought to be-
come aware of it, and the sooner the
better.
We were once discoursing on this
subject with farmer in his milk-room,
who was himself complaining of the
inferiority of several cows of his herd =,
and could not but feel astonished at his
concluding remark that, after all q,
every little helps" 1t is true that if
some inescapable law had compelled
him to maintain these cows upon his
farm, or if in any way he was making
large profit from them aside from
their milk, he might have said that
even the little milk he got from them
helped. But that was not the case.
1t has seemed very strange to us that
in this matter we have been so long,
and so lonesomely, a voice crying in
L I I
many dairy meetings, and heard many
skillful dairymen discourse upon cow
feeding, and the wastes of the dairy
but somehow none of them seemed to
get good grip of the fact that the
greatest of all the wastes of the dairy
arises from feeding cows that do not
and never can be made to pay for their
feed" be the same more or less"
Our readers in Vermont have not
forgotten Professor Collier, the first
secretary of the Board of Agriculture.
afterwards chemist of the Agricultural
Bureau at Washington. and now the
director of the most important of oul
state agricultural experiment stations
that of New York No farmer who
has ever been brought into close rela.
tions with DIR. Collier, or has heard
him discourse upon questions of scien,
tifc agriculture, has ever felt any doubt
of his mastership of whatsoever sub
ject he grappled with. He has lately
taken up this very one, which has eX
ercised our own mind so greatly, anC
he handles it, in recent papel
(printed in the HuSbandmom, so ex
haustively, and with such demon
stratiye clearness, that we believe WI
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1889-01-30
Work the Bulls.

Yes, work them. They learn in
few days to work single or double in
horsepower, cart, wagon, pillow, har-
row, on farm or highway. They be-
come as harmless and docile as the
gentlest oxen, are much less dangerous
than horses, and in some things do
more satisfactory work. | worked them
many years. Working makes them bet
ter sires and their progeny more hardy
and thrifty, They should be well fed
and cared for, and the vast amount
and variety of work done by them will
many times overpay the expense of
their keeping. If worked properly they
acquire no bad habits. When worked
double they never fight or annoy each
other when out of harness, in pasture,
or at the manger; but | have seen them
combine and simultaneously attack
strange bulls coming on the grounds
they frequent. In logging they are SUI
perior to horses and often worth many
human laborers. We should have less
complaint of sterile bulls if all were
trained to work.-Dr. ID. L. PhdreS, IN
american AgriculturiSt.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1889-01-30

The above tables want very careful
study by our dairymen and feeders,
since the results are as true of growing
and fattening animals as of dairy cows.
1t may, perhaps, be safely assumed
that in nearly all, if not in every case,
the grain or bran or malt sprouts fed
was in excess of strictly maintenance
ration, and was intended to be for the
express purpose of increasing the
product of milk. That such result
was secured beyond question glance
at the above table will show, but the
question remains as to whether this in
creased yield was secured along with
an increase in the profits. The table
is equally conclusive as to this point
also, for we shall see that an increase
in the first case of Sl.32 in the amount
of grain fed resulted in an average in
crease of So 81 in the value of the
products, equal to 42S per cent of the
value of the grain fed. The following
gives the results in full:
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1889-01-30

While certain of the above items may
be too high, it is certain that there are
many other incidental expenses which
would considerably increase the amount,
as the cost of feeding, milking the
cows, of stables and of the dairy,
which for fifty cows would require at
least the equivalent of two men, say at
$50 each per month, or Sl440 per COW.
This would swell the cost to S57 81 per
COW.
1t is obvious that since most of the
above expenses are among the esti-
mated values of farm produce, strict
account of them is not likely taken in
estimating the cost of running the
dairy. To many the charge for hay
will appear excessive, but a review of
the figures will, think, justify it,
while on the other hand the expense
for pasturage may appear too low
Again the item for care and super
vision is so largely met by the services
of those who are not under pay that its
cost is not likely to appear in full in the
account.
However, each reader may for him
self revise the expense account, charg-
ing only so much for service or for
supplies as the same would cost if paid
for.
find upon tabulating the statistics
presented by Mr.. Jennings that of the
lightweight diaries reporting the aver
age earnings per cow in amounts be-
tween $15 and S25, between S25 and
$35, between S35 and S45, between $40
and 500, between 500 and $50, and
above S65, the following:
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1889-01-30

1t appears, therefore, that there was
an average return realized in the in
creased value of products obtained
equal to fully 800 per cent of the value
of the grain fed to these animals; and
when we consider how large percent
age of the value of grain is also re-
turned in the increased quantity and
quality of manure, which also largely
represents the value Of the hay fed, we
see an opportunity for profitable dairy
ing in New York state far surprising
anything yet realized, except in very
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1889-01-30

BUCKLIN's ARNICA SALVE.-The
best salve in the world for cuts, bruises,
sores, ulcers, salt rheum, fever sores,
letter, chapped hands, chilblains, corns
and all skin eruptions, and positively
cures piles, or no pay required. 1t is
guaranteed to give perfect satisfaction,
or money refunded, Price twenty-five
cents per box, Sold by all druggists.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1889-01-30

rare, only too rare, cases. In fact the
profitable pursuit of agriculture in our
state, and the maintenance of the fer
tility of our farming lands is, in my
opinion, most intimately associated
with the dairy industry.
PETER COLLIER.
Geneva, December %.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1889-01-30
advertisements.
Rheumatism

II is an established fact that Hoods Sar-
saparilla has proven an Invaluable remedy
in many severe cases of rheumatism, effect
ing remarkable cures by its powerful action
in correcting the acidity Of the blood, which
is the cause of the disease and purifying
and enriching the vital fluid.
II is certainly fair to assume that what
Hoods Sarsaparilla has done for others IL
will do for you. Therefore, If you suffer
the pains and aches of rheumatism, give
this potent remedy fair trial.
A Positive Cure.
al was troubled very much with rheuma.
tism in my hips, ankles, and wrists.
could hardly walk, and was confined to my
bed a good deal of the time. Being rec
commended to try Hoods Sarsaparilla, |
took four bottles and am perfectly well.
j cheerfully recommend Hoods Sarsaparilla
as one of the best blood purifiers in the
world" w. f. WooD, Bloomington, Ill.
For Twenty Years
] have been afflicted with rheumatism. Before
1888 found no relief, but grew worse. | then
began taking Hoods Sarsaparlla, and it did
me more good than all the other medicine l
ever had" II. r. BALLOON, Shirley, Mass.
81 suffered from what the doctors called
muscular rheumatism. ] took Hoods Sar-
saparila and am entirely cured" j. V. A.
PRoUDFooT, letter carrier, Chicago III.
We shall be glad to send free of charge
to all who may desire, a book containingmany
additional statements of cures by
Hoods SarSaparilIa
Sold by all druggists. 81 six for So. Made
only by C. l. HOOD " CO., Lowell, Mass.
100 Doses One Dollar.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1889-01-30

can in no way so well serve our read
ers as by reproducing that paper in
full. AS whole, it is so convincing
that it must have powerful effect upon
the mind of every intelligent and care
full reader. But it is possible that there
are some points in it which men of large
practical experience may be able to
find some fault with. If so, we hope
they will not hesitate to send in
their criticisms. Any way, let us have
the subject discussed, for absolutely it
is to-day the very most important ques-
ton affecting the pecuniary interests
of the farmers of Vermont:
THE DAIRY INDUSTRY IN NEW YORK.
To the Editor Of the Husbdndmdn: -
| have for years insisted that if half the
milch cows of our herds were slaugh-
tered, and their carcasses placed in the
compOst-heap or given up to the soap
maker, our dairy industry would at the
end of the year be more profitable,
possibly tenfold more so, in spite of
this great loss, provided only the poor
est half of the cows should be selected
for this slaughter. In this state it
would mean the loss of no 900 cows, at
an aggregate estimated value of about
S24 100000.
propose to show that these cows, as
an investment, are not worth dollar
indeed are, as an investment, worth far
less than nothing. This may be due
largely to the care and treatment these
animals receive, but still the fact re-
mains that at present they are a source of
enormous loss rather than profit.
During the past few months there
has been published in Hoard'S Dairy
man a series of papers by G.. w. Jen-
nings entitled, 3" 4 Cow Census" con-
tanning statistics concerning the princi-
pal diaries of Jefferson county in this
state. jefferson county stands third of
the sixty counties of the state in the
number of its mich COWS. Oneida and
ST. Lawrence almost surprising it; but
five counties-Oneida, st. Lawrence,
Cattaraugus, Herkimer and Orange
surpass it in the amount of milk sold or
sent to butter or cheese factories; and
but five cOunties-St. Lawrence, Cha
tauqua, Chenango, Delaware and
Otsego-surpass it in the amount of
butter made upon the farm. The re-
suits ascertained, therefore, by this cen
sus of Mr.. Jennings are in the highest
degree important to our dairy interests,
and are worthy of careful consideration.
l have tabulated the statistics given
of eighty-eight of these diaries, all ac-
cessible to me, containing an aggregate
of $40 cows, mainly grades of nearly
every dairy breed, with large number
of so-called natives aud few full
bloods.
The average earnings per COW OBJ
tanned by dividing the aggregate value
of all the products obtained by the num-
Der of cows is S33S6; and the follow
ing gives other averages per COW, based
upon the statistics given for the eighty
eight dairies:
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1889-01-30


The taxes averaged S2.75 for each
cow
We have in the above data for
approXimating closely to the cost of
keeping a COW, and the first thing is
the value of pasturage and hay.
Suppose we estimate the pasture
land upon the average at SO per acre
in value. This, at six per cent, would
be ninety cents, and perhaps an equal
amount would scarcely suffice to keep
the fences in proper repair, together
with cost of occasional renovation.
This would make 80 per acre, or for
each COW S3,67 for annual pasturage.
During the past quarter of a century
the average acreage value of the hay
crop in New York state has been
Sl605, This would make the value of
hay consumed by each COW per an
mum SD.
AT $40 per acre for meadow land, six
per cent interest, and the same esti-
mate for repairs and replacement of
fences-viZ.: ninety cents per acre
we should add S4,52 for the cost of
hay per COW.
The average value per COW of fifty
one of the daires-the only ones re-
porting-was S31.GG, and the interest
would be six per cent, Sl.90.
We have, then, the following as the
cost annually per cow, without in
Guiding interest on necessary buildings
and the necessary expenses of the dairy,
marketing, ETC., etc:
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1889-01-30

SEE FIFTH COLUMN
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1889-01-30
advertisements.

These twin diseases cause untold suffering.
Doctors admit That they are difficult to cure.
The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1889-12-04
A Firm Footing Secured.

There was no church in Van Buren,. A
Methodist itinerant was sent there. One
house only was open to him-the tavern
and to that he went and put up. He
interviewed mine host.
"What Is the chance for Methodist
preacher here?"
The reply was that it was the same as
for any other man if he had money.
"But If have no money!"
The chances were bad enough.
"What do you charge for board?" ask
ed the circuit-rider.
The rates were given.
"Look at my horse" said he, "what
do you think he is WORTH"
The animal, doubtless, was good mid
ding, for the preachers are not novices
about horses, and no men have better
use for them. That preliminary settled,
the preacher proceeded in very straight
forward style with the host:
''Sir, turn my horse into your stable,
and when you think 1 have eaten up the
value of him, let me know, and will
either change my quarters or provide
other means Of paying my bill" He
went to work-laid siege to the place in
the name Of the Lord-and before the
horse was eaten up the town capitulated.
The people presented him his horse, all
charges paid, and his own bill besides,
fitted out ''the parson" in new suit Of
clothes, and from that day Christianity
has had firm footing in Van Buren,
Hartford Religious Herald.
The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1889-12-04
Kindness as q Buffer.

Did you ever notice the way in which
Q train of railroad cars are fastened to.
gether? At the end of each Car is .
huge bolt, which slides In and out lit.
tie way, to which is hooked another bolt
Just like 1t on the next car. When the
engineer backs and the two cars come
together, they do not strike with hard
bump, jolting the passengers out of their
seats; but the two fastenings meet, each
slides in a few inches, breaking the
force Of the blow, and the two cars
come together easily and gently. These
slides are called buffers, because they
buff each other, and save the cars from
many bump. Now do you know that
every body can carry with him buffer,
which will help him to avoid hard hits
with other people. That buffer is kind
ness,
The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1889-12-04
An Illegal Decision.

In different towns Of Washington Ter
ritory number Of women offered their
votes, which in some cases were refused,
in other cases accepted and deposited in
separate boxes. The last Territorial
Legislature, 1t will be remembered,
passed law restoring to women their
right Of suffrage. The decision of the
Territorial Supreme Court annulling
this law is believed to be illegal by al
most every lawyer in the Territory, ir-
respective Of his views on woman suf-
frage, and an appeal against 1t is pend
ing before the U. s. Supreme Court. If
this appeal should be successful, says
the Womans journal, it will show that
the women were actually entitled to
vote at the election just past. But the
Territorial papers opposed to woman
suffrage loudly denounced any attempt
by the women to vote until the decision
of the Territorial judges should have
been reversed bya higher power; and
many women are deferred from attempt
ing it by the fear that they would be
acting illegally. Ferry is chosen Gov
ernor, Dunbar and Hoyt, Supreme Court
judges, and many other suffragists have
been elected to State Offices The con-
stitution was adopted by 10000 majority.