Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1893-02-23

trated well by "A couple Uf last summer 5
plots above instanced. The unsprayed plots
yielded at tho rate of 100 bushels OF sound
marketable tubers per scre and 20 bushels
rotting tubers Of marketable SIZE, while the
sprayed plot yielded az the rate of 300 bush
els per acre sound tubers and only two
bushels rotten tubers. The gain then from
prolonaug the life OF the vine was almost
ten times that from checking the rot, a
gain made entirely after August l and most
ly after August 10.
There were several flung icides treated at
the experiment station last summer and the
old standby, Bordeaux mixture, made of six
pounds of copper sulphate sometimes called
blue vitrol or blue stone) four pounds
fresh lime and from 20 to 45 gallons OF
water proved most efficient 1t is best ap-
piled in G spray in order to thoroughly
cover the leaves, and best before the disease
appears, say about July 80, followed by
one or two more applications at intervals of
a fortnight. The spraying may be done in
q small and imperfect way by use OF Il pail
and broom, or by watering pot, but bet
ter by force pump on barrel with hose
aud nozzle. The knap:ack sprayer does
good work but consumes man power.
The scab is caused by n fungus growth
upon the tuber. 1t appears as peculiar
delicate grayish mould, especially promi-
nent about the edges of the younger spots.
Investigations shows that scabby seed pro-
ducos n scabby crop; that Clean disease
free tubers will raise a clean crop, provided
soil and manure are free from the disease;
that smooth potatoes from a scabby lot are
unsafe as they are liable to have scsb germs
ciuging to them; that the disease fingers in
the ground year after year; that scabby pota-
toes fed stock made scabOy manure, carry
ing digoase to the soil il is used upon; that
beets, turnips, ETC., will catch the dsease
and that if scabby potatoes are soaked in a
weak solution of corrosive sublimate the
germs are killed and the potatoes safe to
use for seed on undiseased ground and with
undiseased manure.
The State Board Of Agriculture held in
stitutes last week at Addison and Shore
ham in Addison county. The Addison meet
ing closed Wednesday evening, was well at
tended and much interest was shown. We'd
nesday morning Mr.. Arms of the Board
spoke on ''Sheep husbandry" saying that he
was believer in mixed farming for most
of our farmers, depending ON market, loca-
ton, individual qualifications, the thousand
and ono things that go to make up the
problem. There is no class of workers
which needs versatility Of talent, ingenuity
and skill that the farmer does He should
be chemist, botaniSt, lawyer, manufacturer
and should be endowed with the BEST OF
common sense aud good wife to be sue
cessful. believe in a moderate sized dairy,
a little 'horse dairy" and few sheep can
be kept also to good advantage. They take
less work and care, less every day wear and
tear than any other farm property. Profits
are not as large Gs they have been ought
TO be, yet they generally pay, particularly
if they be mutton sheep. With ordinary
luck and management man may approx
mate 30 per cent profit from q small flock.
Compare this with the tens Of thousands Of
cows Kept at a loss in this State.
II the far West could raise clothing wool
sheep, / would not stand here to advocate
the breeI!ng of such sheep but it
cannot. They deteriorate, the wool
becomes harsh and the animal less
valuable and great field is open for Yer
monters to raise rams to sell West and else
where for breeding purposes. This is
fast developing Industry and our grand
children will not be able to supply the de
maud. The crossing of mutton sheep upon
merinos produces an excellent animal in q
short TINA. Sheep improve the pastures
decidedly and if not too many are put in,
do not interfere with the cows
have in years past made Cotswolds my
pets. | had the largest flock in New Eng-
land and as many tlocks of sheep Th4y
have 10 herding qualities. | imported 50
Cotswoids in 1870 aud took them to New
Mexico to cross on the Spanish msrinos of
that country. They produce at most about
three pounds Of wool APIECE yearly My
first clip was 700 pound, from 1000 sheep,
an enormous yield for that country. My
first clip after crossing on tho Cotswolds
was over seven pounds a head. Such Il
cross makes fine flock of middle sheep.
Sheep help our pastures and Our purSos and
the profitable early lambs our pilates and
our purses. Do not keep your sheep
too long for they are not good for fattening
when they get too old Pasture your sheep
in you' mowngs in the fall both will be
the better for it. Grain tuem well. A
bushel of grain fed in the fall is worth two
fed in the winter to fatten lambs, but start
in gradually. ] grain my sheep every day
they are in the barn. have tried to go with
out with ill success. Would you raise
twins ? As for raising twins | think one
good lamb is better than two poor ones.
MEETINGS AT POULTNEY AND BRANDON
Prof. Jones is to talk on this subject at
Brandon and Poultney this week and the
FREE PRESS will report la future issue
the portion of the lecture which has to do
with the now disease and methods OF com.
batting it.
After the grip, when you weak and
played out" Hoods Sarsaparilla will reflore
your health and strength,