The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1894-01-03


In size, Longfeld is about with Fa-
meuse, but more conical; and in quality,
in our judgment, is very nearly, If not
quite, equal to that apple. But, of
course, both must be taken at the right
stage of maturity, in order to judge
them properly. Longfeld is strictly a
fall apple, and, in our locality, begins
to be in eating in September; lasting,
with intelligent handling, until Christ
mas, or a little later. The flesh is as
white as that of the Fameuse, and its
flavor as good, though not the same.
AS to beauty, its form is conical, which
is not so favorable to looks in small
apple as roundness; but if delicate
rosy cheek on a waxen yellow ground
will suit, then the Longfield is pretty,
at least. The fault of this variety is
extreme over.bearing, and, without
vigorous thinning, the fruit is small
and inferior; and besides that, the trees
are pretty sure to break down. There
is no off year with this apple. You get
a full crop every year, without refer.
ence to what other varieties may do.
WE have, for the first time since they
were put away, been looking over the
files of the old Vermont Farmer, which
we established and conducted for the
four years 1970-74. They bring many
things to memory which we had for
gotten, and one thing in particular we
noticed, that we claimed year ago two
more years for our connection with this
paper than the facts allow. We sold
our interest in the Farmer in the
spring of 1874, and did not begin our
connection with the WATCHMAN until
January l, 1875, making it but nineteen
years to date, instead of twenty years
to last January. So much for not con-
sulting the documents. But we hope
TO make out our twenty years yet, if
sufficient health remains to carry us
through the new year.
THE question of Mr.. Baldwin, in
another column, has come to us from
several others. In reply we can say
that the Green Mountain Grape, under
that name, or that of the " Winchell ;"
can be had of nearly all nurserymen.
We obtained ours from George S.
Josselyn, Fredonia, N. Y. Elwanger &
Barry, of Rochester, N. Y, first intro
duced it, under the name of Winch
clip; but "Green Mountain" is the
most common designation, and will no
doubt be, as it should be, the perma-
nent one. 1t originated in southwest
ern Vermont, but its parentage seems
to be unknown. 1t was probably a
chance Seeding. Its color is light
grass green, which changes but little in
ripening. This is rather an advantage,
so far as pilferers are concerned, as it
looks quite green when it is entirely
ripe.
1t has often been discussed whether
the quality of cows milk can be i'm
proved by feeding. We all know, of
course, that the quantity can be so in
creased; but it is the almost universal
belief that the quality cannot be materi-
ally bettered. 1t is our idea, drawn from
long personal experience in milking
COWS and making butter, that but very
little change in the quality of milk can
be effected, so far as the butter is con-
cerned,-unless we begin with half
starved or slop-fed COW. With ordinary
farm feeding, we have never seen any
improvement in quality, even where
there was large increase in quantity.
Yet Professor Cooke has claimed that,
by a change of feed, the percentage
with certain cows was raised from Al
to 720. We like to see all sides of a
question represented, and we therefore
submit the following experience of a
correspondent OF Hoard's Dairyn1dn,
from New Hampshire, w. d. Baker,
of Elmwood Dairy:
Two cows, grade Durhams, were selected,
both farrow, having calved in April, and
after coming to the barn in the fall were fed
on good hay all they would eat up clean,
and four quarts corn and cob meal and four
quarts shorts, daily. November 25th their
milk was analysed, as follows:
sugar 4iot
Casein and albumen. 44i5
Total solids. .,...,....,......,...........l2 55s
Quantity Of milk 49, pounds.
November Odd the silo was opened and
the cows fed ensilage morning and night
and hay at noon, with the same grain ration
as before. December Sd the milk analysed
as follows:
Solids not $50
bi