smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1875

Professor p NJ. Duncan, T r. S.. recent
ly delivered at the Royal institution Il
course Of lectures upon The Grander
Phenomena OF Physical Geography.' He
pointed out that there is strong evidence
that the earth is a solid body now cooling,
because the deeper man can get in mines
or in borings the hotter is the temperature,
and if the temperature continues to in
crease at depths to which men can not
reach, in the same ratio that it does at
depths which he can reach, Il temperature
of $3.50 degrees would be found at depth
of forty-five miles. At this temperature
GRANTEES and lavas fuse. Assuming, then,
the earth to be hot body now cooling, as
it cools the rocks must contract; more
over, those rocks which are rich in silica
will not contract so rapidly on cooling as
others, consequently herein source Of
change of shape TO the earth. 1t is well
Known that surface changes are going on,
that some large areas of land are in course
of slow upheaval, while others are slowly
sinking, and that at one geological period
there was great upheaval Of the larger
portion of the continent OF North America.
The globe. therefore. is cooling unequally


The radiation from some parts is greater
than at others, so in this there is further
source of ofdisturbance. Sir William Thomp-
son has calculated that every year 80 horse
power of work for heat means works.
got rid of from every 247 acres of the sur
face of the globe. The dissipation Of en-
ergy and the contraction of rocks not be-
| ing uniform, the effect of these disturbing
causes is to produce horizontal thrusts,
which form mountain ranges by crumpling
up the earth, for mountains are formed by
this crumpling action, and not usually by
direct volcanic or other upheaval The
changes produced by the contraction are
slow, and there is every reason to believe
that our present sea floors and our present
continents are extremely old, geographic
ally speaking, SO far as their present forms
are concerned. He said that the upper
part of Snowdon consists of sea sand, tos-
sill sea fishes and volcanic ashes, all mixed
together; in fact, it appears to have been
at one time in the same condition that the


Bay OF Naples is in at present-that is to
say, volcanic ashes fell into it and some
times buried hsh. The lower part of Snow
don consists of vast streams of old lava


At some geological period the crumpling
| action already mentioned look place be-
| low the Bay of Snowdon; consequently
the bottom of the bay was elevated and
became the top of the highest mountain
in Wales. Rain, and rivers. and atmos-
pheric changes then played upon it during
the course of long ages, sculpturing out the
beautiful mountain scenery which char
| acterizes the SnoWdon range.
Year: 1875

tie, swine and sheep. 1t is mixed with
some other kind of grain. as wheat is be-
lieved to be too hearty to feed alone 1t
is, however, valuable feed for all kinds
of stock when fed judiciously, and the
only reason it has not been fed more than
it has is because of its usual high cost
Air-dried wheat and corn each contain
about the same amount Of water, and they
vary very slightly IN the proportion Of
organic matter and ash, but OF albumin
oids, wheat contains thirteen parts against
ten in corn. OF crude fibre. wheat has
but three parts against five and one-half
in corn, while in fatty substances, corn
exceeds wheat in the proportion of seven
to one and five-tenths. For feeding any
kind of stock, it would undoubtedly be
better to mix several varieties of grain
than to teed either one Of them alone.
IN. f. Farmer.
Year: 1875

10 MEASURE Corn IN THE EAR A
farmer asks how to measure corn in the
ear, or in the crib or bin There are sew
eral rules for this. but the most common
is what is called the 2S-inch rlle-that is,
upon the presumption that a box l foot
square and % inches deep will hold one
bushel when shelled This rule applies
only to the dent or gourdseed variety of
corn. The cubical contents in feet are
first ascertained, and this multiplied by
three and divided by seven, which will
give the bushels OF shelled corn of fifty
six pounds. Thus a crib that is thirty-two
feet long, eight feet wide and thirteen
feet high in the average, Will hold ,425
bushels, and two OF them 1850 bushels
A common wagon box, eleven feet long
and two feet high, would hold IS bushels
corn in the ear. Another rule for farmers
boy is to reduce the contents to cubic
inches and divide by l,o32, which will
give him the bushels.
Year: 1875

Sorrows sober lis and make the mind
genial And in sorrow we love and trust
our friends more tenderly. and the dead
becomes dearer to us. And Just as the
stars shine out in the night SO there are
blessed faces that look at us in our grief,
though before their features were fading
from our recollection.
Year: 1875

ESSENCE OF THE LATEST FASHION Ir
mems trousers are swelling and the Wo-
mems skirts are shrinking It's Just like
having both legs in one pantaloon t. wear
the present fashion for ladies. Ii Till,
thing continues the women will be wear
ing the breeches in good earnest, aud the
despised petticoat will adorn the neither
limbs of recreant, hitherto arrogant man
In the year 1886, and a lowered white
silk hat, my mother was married. and
with the discretion belonging to those
days She ripped up that hat and laid fl
away tor future reference Nearly forty
years have flown, but that brocaded sin
is the rage to-day, and some huge bows
that adorned that wondrous hat are of
the damask ribbon for which New York l.
going wild Just now The wedding lres-
that accompanies this bonnet had more
silk in the sleeves than the skirt, was quite
short, and spOrted a small knob OH the
breast like q dwarf pincushion, stuffed
with a COB Of cotton, with folds of silk
radiating from it, like the rsng-sun sort
of business you see on haud organs and
old-tashioned cottage pianos. This wa
the then popular ''buttertly waist" We
haven't got to that yet, but damask ribbon
and lowered silk and skinny skirts and
st"ange and uncouth shapes in bonnets are
Ia . on the spot AS tar as can see we
are reviving the days Of 1886, and going
back to first principles New York Cor
St Louis Republican.
Year: 1875

The story about the King OF Burmah,
which has for some time past been going
the rounds of the papers, is an old one re
turbished His Majesty, so it is said in
tends shortly to publish a newspaper and
those of his subjects who decline to sub
scribe to it are to be beheaded The real
facts OF the case, as we understand them.
are comical enough. About four years
ago the King of Burmah wished to start a
weekly newspaper, in the vernacular and
in English, and forthw ith consulted an
eminent British official then in Burmah
about the matter His Majesty said there
need be no trouble about minor details. he
would see to them himself; what he want
ed was competent English editor. with
Anglo-Indian experience OF journalism, to
whom thousand rupees a month would
be paid. His Majesty added that he would
only make one tipulation-namely that
the editor should pledge himself to follow
with constant approval the line of policy
adopted by the court. that nothing dis
pleasing to His Majesty should ever ap-
pear in the journal, and that in case Of
these rules being infringcd the editor
should beforehand sanction his liability to
receive Immediately 500 strokes on the
sole of his foot with the "sluckak wukk",
whatever that may mean! The capital OF
the Burmese empire is still in want of Il
newspaper. Pail Mall Gazette.
Year: 1875

1t appears that the breeders and farmers
of Maine have all been breeding small horses
and man looking for pair Of heavy team
horses is obliged to ride far and search long
This is q mistake. There should be stallions
in the state Of Maine suited to getting colts
which will make large horses, and mares
adapted to breeding that class Of horses
should be coupled with such stations. The
same is true Of Vermont or New Hamp-
shire. We would not advise all farmers to
breed that kind of horses, because the market
would be over-stoeked. There is and always
will be demand for class Of heavy horses
and the prices are likely to be remunerat,ve.
At the same time horse of lighter weight
and with more spirit and nervous force is re-
quirsd for roadster and for general use. Still
another class of horses the breeding Of which
pays we'll if managed with skill aud success
are those with special reference to speed
The farmer should turn his attention TO that
class for which his circumstances give the
best facilities. 1t should always be borne in
mind that nervous power and endurance are
of prime Importance in the horse, and it
makes little difference about his weight,
form or action if be is lacking in these quail
tiles. Old Justin Morgan, horse Of less
than thousand pCuads weight, possessed
these qualities in such a remarkable degtee
that he was able to do his six days work 10
week in logging swamp or anywhere else,
and be fresh enough at any time, to out
walk, out-trot, out-run and out-draw all
comers, and to transmit these qualities to
his progeny.


The editor Of the Maine Farmer is moved
to speak on this matter, and his remarks
will be found in another column.
Year: 1875

crop of Of such lands this year, unless they
are plowed, manured aud sowed to Huugra-
ian grass. Bat this is an annual, aud when
mown this year that is the end Of IL, and be-
sides il is supposed the farmer has not the
manure. If the farmer will give little otten-
ton to saving aud making mluure all summer;
scrope over the yards, haul in muck that
has been piled up and frozen over winter
loan, tart or any dirt in his COW yard and
pig yard to absorb the liquids, put it in the
trenches il his COWS are stabbed, mix II in
equal parts with the horse manure, dump a
load to receive the water from the sink
spout, scrape up all the sweepiugs and every
thing about the premises, and work all over
in heap until 6ne, he will 10 the fall have
fine lot Of compost. After haying plow
upone Of these old mowings shallow, not over
plow that crumbes the sod, harrow il aud
spread on six, eight or ten twO-horsO loads
to the acre Of the fine compost harrow 1t in
until the surface is foe and smooth, aud SOW
with grass seed, say timothy and red top,
seed literally, and roll it. Tho earlier the
seed is sown the better, unless il is very dry,
but it may be done any time before the
ground freezes. Early next spring, By all
means early, before the frost begins to come
out, or at least while the soil is yet full Of
water, SOW clover aud plaster. If the soil
is full Of weed seeds they will come up with
the grass. In that case it may be necessary
to NOV the first crop earlier than would
otherwise be best 1t is safe to predict that
such field will give several good crops Of
grass which will make manure enough for a
heavy dressing by the time it requires plow-
ing again.


As for the rest Of the old fields, we would
SOW in the fall, or any time this sumner,
just before rain, peck to half a bushel of
plaster to an acre, aud ope for 4 reward
next year. IL half bushel of salt and a
lew bushels OF ashes be added, the expecta-
tiOn may be stronger, and if the whole be
thoroughly mixed with few cart,loads of
fine frost.cured muck, or even soil, and a
soil different from that Of the field is prefer
able, we should count with much confidence
on substantial increase of the crop. We
have seen patches of an old moving revived
and brought into productive condition by a
thin sprinkling of its own soil thrown on the
grass,


We have given more than a categorical
reply to the questions Of j. L., because so
many farmers in the same predicameut are
seeking relief 1t is hoped that j. l.. and
others interested, will talk this matter up
and do something, this year, and tell others
through the FARMER of the results, whether
good, bad or Indifferent
Year: 1875

We have received the FIRST number of the
new monthly, published at Amherst, Mass,
under the above name. 1t is a readable
paper, conducted with ability aud fullfls tn
promise of the publishers. The Springfield
Republican in complimentary notice of it
advises the other agricultural papers of
western Massachusetts to consolidate with it,
making especial mention of the New Eng
land Homestead, burned out the other day.
That would doubtless be good thing for
tho Scientific Farmer. But perhaps Mr..
Burt will think he has labored too long to
put the Homestead on a solid basis to give
up its identity now, even though burned out.
We hope the new paper will be able to at
tain a living success of its own without
swallowing up any Of its contemporaries. The
papers which make agricultural reading q
leading feature are none too many.
Year: 1875

OF this crop the Ohio Farmer says;


Corn is by far the most important crop of
our country. 1t is crop also well adapted
to our soil and climate, in some of its varie.
ties, from Maine to the Gulf Of Mexico, and
from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean.
Much Of our prosperity depends upon it,
while the export of the crop might defy
famine throughout the world, for the excess
in quantity beyond what is required for our
own consumption, may be increased almost
indefinitely. Whenever Europe is deficient
Of food, America stands ready with her corn
crop to supply the deficiency.


In many parts Of the country it is the food
of both men and animals; and its use for
food might still be greatly increased, both as
matter of health and economy. 1t is safe
to affirm that the same amount of heathful
nutriment cannot be obtained, at the same
cost, in any other article of food, as in a
given amount Of Indian corn. While one
bushel of wheat will make about forty
pounds of -four, one bushel Of corn will make
fifty pounds of bOlted meal, and pay the toll
for grinding; and the corn meal contains as
much nutriment, pound for pound, as the
wheat -four and costs about half as much, as
a general rule. And, besides this, one acre
Of ground will produce double the number of
bushels of corn that it will of wheat, while
its stalks, at the North, will nearly pay the
entire cost of raising the crop.
Year: 1875

for its producing any specific effect, it does
often act like a charm; aud what seems
equally strange, COWS troubled with garget
often show an appetite for il, though they
would reject IL at other times. Dose bulk
of half hens egg. Half an ounce Of salt
peter morning and evening, dissolved in the
water she drinks, will often render essential
aid. When the case is so severe as to need
internal remedies, the bag besides being
washed morning and evening with warm
water, may be bathed in the middle Of the
day with liquor Of ammonia diluted with
some light oil like oil of turpentine, and we'll
rubbed in. This will help to dissolve and
scatter the obstructing matter In such
case the patient should be kept in comfor-
table stable and lightly fed with laxative
food


This is the best course Of treatment known
to the writer. Perhaps some one else may
give better directions. 1t is essential to
treat garget on its first appearance. If al
lowed to run, il is liable to terminate in
liberation, which, when once fully estab-
lished, have never been able to heal.


We cannot endorse Mr.. Arnold's recon-
menda ton OF saltpeter
Year: 1875

A regular correspondent of the Country
Gentleman who signs f. Co." writes:


A milch COW should be quiet and content
ed. She will have to be petted and made
much of. This influences her domesticity,
and that, in the milch cow, seems to be al
lied to the maternal feeling which prompts
to lacteal secretion. But whether this is 80
or not, certain it is that where single COW
is petted and well taken care of, there is a
great increase in the milk over her former
yield when kept in the herd. 1 have known
quite a number of such cases. L never
knew one that did not show this improve
ment. And now we have come to the point
in discussion-the difference in the quality
of herds with respect to their size. Treat
each of the members of the herd like the one
taken from it and kept as a single COW, and
the whole herd would be improved. 1t
would be improved to such an extent as
could not well be done by mere selection


My experience has revealed to me the fact
that our native COWS, which form the staple
Of our dairies, are capable Of great improve
ment, probably because they came of good
blood originally when brought over, but
have been abused or permitted to run down.
1t needs only good treatment to bring them
up to a good point. This is my experience,
and is one of the principal sources of profit
in securing dairy herd. There are COWS
the Ayrshires-that give more milk, and the
Jerseys, that have more cream, but for profit
on the whole, the common native, so far as
the writer's experience goes, surpasses them
both-only, however, when the treatment is
discriminative and thorough. Then the ad-
vantage, with the whole herd, will be SINH
lar to that Of the one COW separated from it.
But this is seldom fully realized, because
the requisite pains are not taken, and the
principle is not sufficiently understood.
Year: 1875

then hilled with double mould board plow,
aud laid by with scarcely any hand labor,
and produce good crops.


If farmers continue 10 raise hoed crops TO
any extent they most adopt these improve
ments. 1t is necessary to stir the soil aud
keep down the weeds, and if either Of these
are omitted the crop will be failure.


If farmers will take pains to inform them
selves how many Of these new methods by
machinery and horse power are real improve
ments, aud adopt those that are valuable, it
might not be so difficult to keep the boys on
the farm. Try it, brother farmers, aud see
how it works.


But IL may be said in reply, that the
farmer must keep about SO much help any
way and they can do the planting and hoe.
ing by hand as well as to sit still. We say
not so 1t is not necessary to have so
much help. "Take time by the fore-lock." !"
Seed out the manure in winter and have the
land ready to plow earlier and the farmer
can get along with less help. Then again,
the time gained by using improved machinery
may be employed in making compost, pro-
viding absorbeuts, draining, clearing out
stones, laying wall aud other permanent pay
ing improvements. The first cost of these
machines is slight when compared with the
saving Of labor and the value of improve
ments that may be made in the time gained.


But the doubter may say "the new editor
Of the FARMER is one Of these kid glove
farmers who believes in buying all the pat
ents that come along, and sitting on the
fence while the weeds grow up through his
improved machines" Wrong again We
are the first to admit that among the real
good and useful improvements the market is
full of humbugs and failures; and the farm.
or will find it necessary to exercise a wise
discretion in buying and make a liberal
allowance for cxaggerAtion ahd ialsehood by
agents. It is easy enough to ascertain
what is worthy Of trial. The farmer who
is incredulous as to all improvements and is
unwilling to be convinced simply stands in
his own light.
Year: 1875

Those who plant and hoe these crops by
hand realize most fully the force of the
curse pronounced on the soil and he who
tills it, as a punishment for original sin.
One is reminded of the words Lowell puts
in the mouth of Hosea Biglow.


That's what God has fat and fairly said,
in the volume Of his word, and you've got
to git up airly if you want to git round
God"


1t seems as if the genius of modern inven-
tors would enable the farmer to shift the
burden of the Divine malediction from his
own shoulders to those of his faithful friend,
the horse, Tho corn planter puts in the
seed better than by hand, giving heavier
crop and making easier hoeing. And now
the smoothing harrow takes all the burden Of
hoeing. This implement may be run over
the field before the corn is up, again Just
after it comes up, an d once week until it
is knee high. The cultivator should be run
through the rows once a week, If possible
after that, until the corn is too large, and
good crops raised without putting a hoe in
the field. Some farmers are ineredulous as
to this. Others are resolved not to believe
it, and some say "that may do on the prai
ries at the West or on the meadows, but il
would never work on our hill FARMS" BuI
it is an established fact that the planter and
the smoothing harrow will work we'll OF
farms where the mower and horse rake car
be used and at great saving of labor and
expense and increase of tho crop.


Potatoes, if planted SO that the hills are
level with the surface, may be narrowed il
the same way until the tops are foot high
Year: 1875

means at hand, will repeat the tests, keeping
an exact record in each case of the quantity
and temperature, etc, of the cream, time Of
churning and quantity Of butter produced,
and all other details and report to the
FARMER we shall be pleased to publish them.
The record of such experiments will be valu-
able to dairymen.


IL is claimed for the Bullard churn that
the agitation of the cream is exceptionally
uniform. If this is so the natural tendency
would be toward an increase 10 quantity Of
butter.


The ease of operation and of cleansing
are features Of that churn which are self
evident.
Year: 1875

The sheep shearing usually comes at this
season. 1t must be remembered that the
most sensitive creature the farmer ever has
to deal with is newly shorn sheep. A
heavy shower, if COOL will kill them 10 a
few minutes and sometimes warm shower
is fatal. They should be housed for few
nights unless the weather is very mild and
settled, and it is safest any way. See to
the feet, mark them and dock the lambs.
Put bucks in a separate pasture with good
fences.
Year: 1875

Editor Of the Farmer You say that
you have changed light crop of white top
to heavy crop of red clover by the use of one
half bushel plaster TO the acre. Now there
are one hundred farmers in Caledonia County
that would use one.half barrel if they could
thereby do the same thing. What was the
kind Of SOIL wet or dry, rich or moderately
fertile, upland or meadow 2 am much in
terested in the way the thing is done.
Year: 1875

Free from serious objections. yet palatable, even
NO morbid app tte for ITSELF and operate as an as.
sistant to digestion, As well as perform the func-
tons Of q stimulant Such we confidently believe
is to be found in
Year: 1875

II the Republican nomination for Mayor had
fallen on any one of the other gentlemen, Mr.
Valentine and his friends would have been ex-
pected, of course, to acquiesce, and help to elect
him. 1t is the usual and common-sense rule OF
such nominations, and in fact q perfectly fair
one. As Mr.. Valentine received tho largest
number Of votes-a result foreseen by every
careful observer, since the vote Of those opposed
to his nomination WAS divided amongst five or
six different persons-he is duly made the cam
didate, and is entitled to the hearty support of
all who call themselves Republicans. or his
competency to fill the place there can be no
doubt; he is perfectly familiar with its duties,
and has all the ability, intelligence, and ed
ucation needed. Furthermore, we are assured
that he responds to the public anxiety
for an efficient and clean police force, and will
use his best endeavor to secure fit aud proper
men, and to keep the force free of those who
bring reproach upon it The appointment and
supervision of the police is his chief duty, and
almost his only function of any Importance and
the ASSURANCE that he will do what the majority
OF good citizens desire in regard to it almost
covers the whole ground.


= There is now simply choice between Mr.. VAL
entine and Mr.. Whiteley. II the former is extern
siyely cut by Republicans,or seriously weakened
by any sort of Independent or other third ticket,
Mr. Whiteley will be the Mayor for the next
three years, and the Democratic police regime
such as Mayor Simms has established, will be
continued over us until 1873. We have had
three years of it, and most Republicans certainly
prefer change, but il any one likes it, and
doesn't desire to lose itwhy his course ia entire
ly plain-to weaken Valentine by any method
available, and help the election of whiteley. We
can see no reason why any Republican should
make that choice, but as We have just said, any
one who does 30, goes with his eyes open to the
cOnepuunnra