The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1892-02-10


We are looking at that compliment in
somewhat the state of mind of a small
chicken over a rather large-sized polly
wog.
TX our report of Professor Cookies
address, where it is said that for cheese
the tendency to slow separation of the
cream is an "absolute loss" it should
be absolute gain. The less the tend
ency of the cream to separate, the
easier it is to retain all of it in the
cheese.
EXPERIMENTS made at the Govern
IN mt farm at Ottawa, Canada, seem
to prove that in killing smut germs on
wheat, before sowing, the use of sui
phate of iron (coppera0 is much less
injurious to the vitality of the seed
than the use of sulphate of copper
(bue-stone). Using in each case So
luton of one pounl in eight gallons of
water-the grain being we'll sprinkled
and then dried-the blue-stone solution
killed twenty-eight per cent of the
grain, while the same quantity of and
treatment with copperas caused no in
jury at all. But when the grain was
soaked thirty-six hours, even the cop
peras solution killed about fifteen per
cent of the grain. When the soaked
seed was kept on hand after drying, ii
was injured more than when it was
sowed at once. The "hard smut" or
"bunt," was effectually killed, but
the loose smut was not much affected
in these experiments. We should be
glad to hear from any of our readers
upon this subject. 1t will not be long
now to wheat-sowing time.
HELLEBORE-the same that is used
for killing the currant worms said by
those who have tried it to be sure
poison for the onion and cabbage-root
maggots. Remove little of the soil
around each plant, and pour in a half
teacupful of a decoction made by
sleeping two ounces of fresh white he'll
lebore powder in three gallons of hot
water. Replace the soil, and the mag
got dies. 1t seems to be killed by mere
wetting with the poison, as it dies very
quickly. If the hellebore decoction is
thro wn in forcibly with syringe it is
more effective. We have known good
work done in destroying these maggots
with hot water alone just going
quickly along the rows with teakettle
and pouring on thin stream. The
operation apparently kills the onions as
well as the worms, but the former re-
cover in few days and grow on nicely.
THUS it goes; just as soon as farmer
in Office is accorded living salary for
his services, he is worked out by polit-
ical intrigue. For dozen years, z. A.
Gilbert has, as secretary of its agricul-
tural board, been devoting the best part
of his time to the service of the far
mers of Maine on small pay, but with
remarkable success. The last legisla-
ture raised his salary-and ring poll
tics has just worked an inferior man
into his place, by the noteworthy vote
of "eight to seven" So goes the
world. If the farmers want any show
at all, they must either smash ring poll
tics by their votes, and follow it right
up year after year, or find themselves
nowhere. The honest farmer is badly
needed in politics; but he has got to be
smart as we'll as honest to win at that
game. We must learn, if possible, how
to hang together and beat the "prac'
tical politicians. We shall be better
able to do that when we are better
trained, and have class pride and horse
sense enough to hang together, choose
sound leaders, and stand by them. Al
long as we continue to allow ourselve,
to follow after smart lawyers and pro
fessional politicians, we shall get left
every time. What is the political statu
Of the farmer, in this almost exclusivel,
agricultural state of Vermont? Hav,
its farmers, who throw hree-quarter
of tie votes, ever had any real power
We might add, '" Have they ever show
that they wanted any, or would use
wisely if they got it?' Do any of GU
readers take enough interest in the sub
ject to let us hear what they think abou
it?
HERE is a piece of news that ough
TO waken the attention of five or tire
farmers, even in Vermont: "The Min
nesota farmers have been baked agai
in their contest with the cordage trust
They thought to rid themselves of il
exactiOns by having the legislature al
thorize the state-prison to undertak
the manufacture of binding Irvine. Blu
the prison authorities find they can blu
no machinery, the trust having contrC