The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1892-08-17

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"bread herself" and save the cash
from going West.
EVERY farmer should. be proud of his
business. AS the Connecticut Farmer
wisely says: "The farmer who looks
on his farm, his stock and his other be-
longings merely as a means to make
money, which he is reluctantly forced
to stick to, will naver find either profit
or pleasure in his work. But the man
who feels pride in his beasts, and has
kindly feeling toward them, is sure to
turn the commonest drudgery into a
source of pleasure, and make good
deal more money in the bargain"
The cactus, though its beauty is
chiefly confined to its brilliant flowers,
is an interesting plant. Its structure,
so well adapted to dry climates, illus
trates the infinite resources of Nature,
and nearly every species has its value to
man. Meehan'S Monthly for August
has these observations on the "Utility
of Cactuses zone would hardly be-
believe that so uncouth and forbidding
looking a plant as the cactus should
ever be found to be valuable. A CORE
spondent from western Texas offers
encomiums on the great value of a
number of species, and especially the
Opuntia Engelmanni. The small thorns
are singed off, and then the fronds are
pounded up as food for sheep and cat
tie. In some parts of Mexico the fruits
of these plants are as desirable for hui
man food as the stems are for animals.
They are also slightly singed before
using, on account of the very fine bris-
ties which are usually found on them.
Some of the fruit can hardly be distin-
guished in taste from well-ripened
gooseberries-in fact, botanically there
is very little difference between the
gooseberry and the cactus. The botan-
ical analysis of the flower shows very
slight distinctions. The cactus might,
without examination, be simply called
succulent form of the gooseberry."
EVERY kind of useful business is
honorable. He is poor specimen of
manhood who is ashamed of his trade,
when it is an honest one. AS writer
in the Stockman and Farmer says:
" The first thing young man should
do is to decide what his avocation shall
be. The next and most important is
to adhere to this, to use every means
within reach to perfect himself in his
pursuit, allowing no sort of allurement
to waste his time or draw off his atten-
ton. 1t does not matter much
whether he be bright or smart. The
great thing is to go straight on until he
can do his chosen work so we'll as to
excel. 1t is of little account what his
choice is, thousand doors are open.
Whatever is worth doing, do well.
Seest thou a man diligent in his bust.
ness? He shall stani before kings, he
shall not stand before memo
WE every day enjoy the absence of
horns from the heads of our cattle.
We think the Connecticut farmers
named in the following clipping from
the Connecticut Farmer will see the
point of the matter in one way, even
though an unusual one: "a curious
affair happened in Ashford, short
time ago. Stephen ID. Curtis and An
son G. Barlow are owners of land ad.
joining, where their cattle are allowed
to run, being separated by rail fence.
Each on the same day missed a COW,
and diligent search failed to discover
where they had gone, when on the
seventh day they were found in the
woods with their horns so interlocked
that it was impossible for them to ex-
tricate themselves. One of the horns
on one Of the COWS had to be sawed off
in order to release them. They had
become very poor and weak from being
unable to obtain food"
WE have good many readers in the
Connecticut valley, on both Sides and
it may interest, and perhaps profit, some
of them to read the following notes
from the pen of our friend, r. j. Black,
of Bremen, Ohio, which we take from
the Stocknaan and Farmer. The Yellow
Belliower, when well grown and
handled, always fetches fancy price
at least one dollar barrel more than
Baldwins. But they should be set near
good-sized river to succeed. "One of
the choice apples, not to be dispensed
with, is the Yellow Bellfower. Occa-
sionally it is a little too acid for eating
out of hand, but it is always fine for
IrsN