18 



THE NEW GENESEE FARMER, 



Vol. 



The Sponge Apple. 



Some yeare ago, we sei a grnit on a young npple 

 tree in the orchard, whicli now bears abunilnntly, and 

 the fruit has become a general favorite; liut the name 

 nnder which we received it has been lost, and if any 

 correspondent will restore it, we shall be much obliged. 

 We subjoin a description. On account of its shrivel- 

 ing when long kept in an open bin, we gave it the^ro- 

 visioTial name of the sponge apple — to be expunged 

 however, when the right name is known. 



Fruit above the middle size, inclining to oblong, 

 but broadest near the base, slightly ribbed, some, 

 three inches deep and three and a quarter in di- 

 ameter. Eye. in n narrow de|)ression, closed. Stem 

 very short — less than one third of an inch, in a broad 

 but very shallow irregular cavity. »S7.7"« green, streak- 

 ed and checkered with very pnle red on the sunny 

 Bide. Flcsli greenish white, extremely tcjider, tart 

 but excellent. 



We have seen no apjile that this resembles, in shape, 

 in color, or in texture. The singular tenderness of 

 i\B flesh reminds us ol the Bellflower; but they difl'er 

 in almost every other particular. The Sponge is more 

 than five times as productive, and generally fair. — 

 Like the former however, it should be carefifliy hand- 

 picked, and no", allowed to fall from the tree, as it is 

 apt lo get bruised. It appears to keep well through 

 the winter; und if barrelled or buried, we have no 

 doubt of its remaining fresh and unshriveled till 

 spring. t 



The Bfnpoleon Pear. 



In years past, we endeavored to cultivate fine win- 

 ter pears; but when the trees came into bearing, it 

 was found we had only been colle-;ting trash. In eve- 

 ry instance the fruit was left for the pigs; nothing fit 

 for human lips to touch, was amongst them; and when 

 asked if there were not good icinter pears ? we have 

 had to answer : we have read of them, but never saw 

 one. 



Well, at last we have found one; and sonic may be 

 gratified to hear it. From a small tree marked Napo. 

 leon, in bearing for the first time, we secured two 

 pears; and about the middle of December, they were 

 mature. In some reapecis they differ from Liiidley's 

 description, and some doubts still hangover their iden- 

 tity; but what follows, was exact: — "finally [the 

 akin] changes to a pnle green, when the flesh becomes 

 zery melting, with a most nnusiial abundance of rich 

 agreeable juice." They were the most juicy pears we 

 have ever tasted. 



We shi.ll notice here, only one of those discrepan- 

 cies: Kenrick says "It ripens wi'h us in Scptomlier." 

 Lindley says " Ripe the middle of November, and re- 

 mains in perfection several days." Ours ripened a 

 month later. t 



Vat or Box Tor Uoiling Sap— Inquiry. 



Messrs. Editors — Having undcr.stoood that there 

 had been a Vat or Box u.sed for boiling sap in ma. 

 king sugar, and wishing to see a description of it, I 

 thought of making incpiiry through your valuable 

 paper ; hoping you, or some of your subscribers, 

 might give me the required information. I wish to 

 know what would be the most convenient size and 

 depth ; how it is made, with a board bottom cover, 

 ed with sheet iron, or with sheet iron bottom alone 1 

 If the latter, what would be the easiest way lo make 

 it water tight ? If the former, will the sap boil 

 equally as well? Also, whether they will take in 

 aap as fast as a caldron kettle holding the same 

 quantity, and the probable expense of one ? 



I would also like to know the quantity of Timo- 

 thy seed required to the acre, to seed with Timo. 

 thy alone, for mowing. 



By answering the above, you will much oblige 

 A SUBSCRIBER, 



Ftir the Mew Genesee Farmer, 

 Watering Places— Hoof Ail. 



Mkssks. Editors — In an editorial article in the 

 December number of the "Cultivator," page 184, 

 ore remarks on the subject ol watering cattle in win- 

 ter; some of which appear to be objectionoble. The 

 sentiment to which 1 refer is, " that it is no disadvan- 

 tage to cattle to go a suitable distance to water, but 

 rather a benefit, as promoting circulation in the feet, 

 and thus preventing diseases of the extremities." — 

 The same idea is advanced in the February number 

 of the same paper, page 2'.i. And putting both arti- 

 cles together, we should eonehide the "suitable dis- 

 tance" for cattle to travel for their water in winter, 

 was from fifty to one hundred rods. And the advan- 

 tage set forth is the exercise, which prevents what is 

 called the hoof ail. 



"Now it strikes me very forcibly," aa the judge 

 says, that this course, both in theory and practice, is, 

 to soy the least, somewhat objectionable. It is the 

 opinion of many, that cattle should not be compelled 

 to go out of their yard for water; and the following 

 among other reasons are adduced. If watercannotbe 

 obtained by cattle without travelling one fourth of a 

 mile, they will many times sufier exceedingly for the 

 want of it, rather than go so far for it. If good fresh 

 water can be had by them without going out of the 

 yard, they will drink very much oflener than in the 

 other ease, especially in cold weather. Again. The 

 oldest and strongest cattle will generally go first to 

 water. When they have drank, they return, and on 

 their way meet others in the narrow snow-path, and 

 of course drive them back. In which case, the young- 

 est and most feeble of the herd will have much trouble 

 and vexation in obtaing water ot all. And again. — 

 The amount of manure which is dropped, and for the 

 most part lost, in such case is very considerable in 

 the course of the winter; and it is by many farmers es- 

 teemed a matter of no small importance, that oH the 

 manure should be saved. Some say, even, that they 

 may as well waste the food of cattle as the food of 

 plants. 



And besides, when cattle go to a spring to drink, 

 especially if the snow is deep, there will genei'nily be 

 great difficulty in reaching the water on account of 

 the bank of snow and ice, unless they step into it, 

 which cattle are very tniwilling to do. I have seen 

 many watering places where cattle, in order to obtain 

 a drop of water, were obliged to get down upon their 

 knees, and even then obtain it with the greatest diffi- 

 culty. 



Neither do I believe the exercise of this travel of 

 cattle a considerable distance to water, is of any advan- 

 tage in preventing the hoof ail. But I am very strong- 

 ly inclined to the opinion, which was advanced some 

 time since by Gen. M. Brooks, of Mount Morris, and 

 also by Heman Chapin, Esq., of East Bloonifield, to 

 wit, that the "foot ail," or " hoof ail," os is ealled- 

 is the result of ihe/rcczing of the feet. And it would 

 seem more probable that the feet would become fiozen 

 by being first wet or covered with mud, than if they 

 were kept dry and clean. 



I believe, therefore, most sincerely, that if cattle are 

 kept in a well enclosed, comfortable yord, with open 

 sheds, or hovels even, for their protection from storms, 

 where they can have free and uninterrupted access to 

 good water, and plenty of salt; the yard kept con- 

 stantly littered with straw, so os to make italway dry, 

 and the cattle put up every night in a stable filled to 

 their knees with the samearticic, they will never have 

 the " hoof nil." 



I know that with many, a very strong prejudice ex- 

 ists against wells for the supply of water for cattle. — 

 And probably, a stronger prejudice prevailsagainstthe 

 labor and trouble of drawing it. But the expense of 

 thus furnishing water for cattle in winter is compara- 



it 



■|iis 



tively trifling ; when, by an under-drain or 

 other contrivance, running wotcr can be conveyed 

 the yard, so much the better. And in many ci 

 this may be done with very little cost. But wl 

 this is impracticable I would pump water for all 

 cattle, horses and sheep, rather than compel thei 

 go abroad for it, even though the distance did not 

 ceed thirty rods. 



There are several farmers of my acquainta 

 whose cattle, if they have any water at all during 

 winter, are-obliged to travel from one fourth to i 

 fourths of a mile for it, and when they arrive at 

 spot where water can be found it is only to be obta 

 by them through a hole cut in the ice, which ma- 

 from six to eighteen inches in thickness. 



I have a good spring of water about sixty rods 

 my barn, and for two or three winters drove my « 

 to it every day, especially in cold weather. But 

 I have dug a wi II contiguous to my cattle yard an 

 a pump in it, I find much less trouble to furnish ' 

 for my stock in the yard than it was, even to visi 

 spring every day to see that is was attainable tht 

 And besides, there is much less quarreling amor 

 cattle, and it is so much more comfortable for thi 

 drink from a trough conveniently situated, t 

 would not be without this appendage to my bom 

 even though it should cost me a hundred dollar 



And moreover, all the manure ot the whole I 

 in the yard, intermi.\ed with the straw and litter 

 of, in good condition for spring use, which is o 

 ter ol no eiuall importance. 



These, and such like, ore the reasons why Ii 

 posed to \^c practice of sending cattle from fif 

 hundred rods for water in winter, expressed, ho 

 with due deference to the opinineof moreexpe 

 herdsmen. 



WINTER PROTECTlOIi. 



I am aware there ore many farmers who thi 

 matter of no consequence, whether our domes! 

 mols ore oflbrded any protection from the sev 

 the winter. It is probably true that most c 

 will lice through the winter without it, if they i 

 fed. But are we not tai-ght o lesson on this 

 from the habits of wild animals? Not oneof thei 

 OS my recollection extends, is without, or d 

 provide himself with comfortable shelter oi 

 for the winter. Are we not told, also, from a 

 which should not be disregarded, that the merci 

 is merciful to his beast ? And where is the 

 who, by a profusion of the blcEsings of a i 

 Providence is made comfortable, can be unmi. 

 bis domestic animals, from which he receives I 

 and his raiment, and afford them that protect! 

 the chilling blasts of winter, by which the/; 

 dered comfortable not only, but are thereby i 

 much more profiioble. 



Another very great advantage of stabling < 

 the saving of feed from waste. I have seen 

 otherwise respectable, throw their hny upon th 

 when covered with mudond filth, for the foo 

 tie, horses nnd sheep, all in the some yard. 1 

 cose one holf, at least, of the bay, was trod 

 mud and woter. But where cot;le are stabi 

 having his mess by himself, and then the yo:i 

 weaker onimols unexposed to the encroachmc 

 older and stronger, consume their food with 

 ness and contentment, without annoyance a 

 out was'.e. 



And still another odvontoge to be derived 

 course of o plentiful use of straw every dayl 

 ing the yard ond stable is, the ani:nols are 

 kept dry and comfortable, but the straw isii 

 too good account. There are many famlBL ' '"i 

 seem not to know what to do with their strai^' ™ 

 alter year it is eulTered to accumulate in imml 



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