18 



THE NEW GENESEE FARMER, 



Vol. 2. 



The Sponge Apple. 



Some years ago, we set a graft on a young apple 

 tree in the orchard, which now bears abundantly, and 

 the fruit has become a general favorite; but the name 

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

 correspondent will reetore 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 /jro- 

 pisional natne 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 a narrow dejireasion, closed. Stem 

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

 but very shallow irregular cavity. Shin green, sneak- 

 ed and checkered with very pale red on the sunny 

 ■ide. Flesh greenish white, e-xtremely tender, tart 

 but excellent. 



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

 in color, or in texture. The singular tenderness of 

 iwjlesh reminds us of the Bellfiower; 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 carefully hand- 

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

 apt to get bruised, It appears to keep well through 

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

 doubt of its remaining fresh and unshrivclcd till 

 ■pring. 



t 



The Napoleon 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 collecting trash. In eve- 

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

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

 aaked if there were not good loinler pears ? we have 

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

 one. 



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

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

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

 pears; and about the middle of December, they were 

 mature. In some respects they differ from Liridley's 

 description, and some doubts still hang over their iden- 

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

 skin] changes to a pale green, when the flesh becomes 

 vtry melting, with a most unusual abundance of rich 

 agreeable juice." They were the most juicy pears we 

 have ever tasted. 



We shJl notice hero, only one of thoee discrepan- 

 cies: Kenrick says "It ripens with ua in September." 

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

 mains in perfection several days." Oura ripened a 

 month later. t 



Vat or Box for Boiling Sap— Inquiry. 



Messks. Editors — Having understoood that there 

 had been a Vat or Box used for boiling sap in ma- 

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

 thought of making inquiry through your valuable 

 paper ; hoping you, or some of your subsicribcrs, 

 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 to make 

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

 equally as well ? Also, whether they will take in 

 ■ap 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. 

 thj alone, for mowing. 



By answering the above, you will much oblige 

 A SUBSCRIBER. 



For the JS'eio Genesee Farmer. 



Watering Places— Hoof Ail. 



Mkssrs. Editors — In an editorial article in the 

 December number of the "Cultivator," page 184, 

 are remarks on the subject of watering cattle in win- 

 ter; eome of which appear to be objectionable. The 

 sentiment to which I 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 23. And putting both arti- 

 cles together, we should conclude 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," as 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 water cannot be 

 obtained by cattle without travelling one fourth of a 

 mile, they will many times suffer 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 oflcner than in the 

 other case, 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 at 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 a?/ 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 generally be 

 great difficulty in reaching the v.'ater on account of 

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

 which cattle are very unwilling to do. I have seen 

 many watering places where cattle, in order to obtain 

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

 knees, and even then obtain it with the greatest difl^i- 

 culty. 



Neither do I believe the exercise of this travel of 

 cattle a considerable distance to vvotei. is of any advan- 

 toge 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 Hcman Chapin, Esq., of East Bloomfield, to 

 wit, that the " foot ail," or " hoof ail," as is called- 

 ia the result of I'aefrec-ung of the feet. And it would 

 seem more probable that the feet would become frozen 

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

 were kept dry and clean. 



I believe, therefore, most sincerely, thotif cattle are 

 kept in a well enclosed, comfortable yard, 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 as to make italway dry, 

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

 their knees with the same article, they will jici'cr have 

 the " hoof ail." , 



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

 ists against wella for the supply of water for catde. — 

 And probably, a stronger prejudice prevails against the 

 labor and trouble of drawing it. But The expense of 

 thus furniebing water for cstlle in winter is compara- 



tively trifling ; when, by an under-drain or any 

 other contrivance, running water can be conveyed into 

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

 this may be done with very little cost. But where 

 this is impracticable I would pump water for all my 

 cattle, horses and sheep, rather than compel them to 

 go abroad for it, even though the distance did not ex- 

 ceed thirty rods. 



There are several farmers of my acquaintance, 

 whose cattle, if they have any water at all during the 

 winter, are obliged to travel from one fourth to three 

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

 spot wheie water can be found it is only to be obtained 

 by them through a hole cut in the ice, which may be 

 from six to eighteen inches in thickness. 



I have a good spring of water about sixty rods from 

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

 to it every day, especially in cold weather. But since 

 I have dug a will contiguous to my cattle yard and put 

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

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

 spring every day to see that is was attainable there. — 

 And besides, there is much less quarreling among the 

 cattle, and it is so much more comfortable for them to 

 drink from a trough conveniently situated, that I 

 would not be without this appendage to my barn yard, 

 even though it should cost me a hundred dollars. 



And moreover, all the manure of the whole herd is 

 in the yard, intermixed with the straw and litter there- 

 of, in good condition for spring use, which is a mat-i 

 ter of no small importance. 



These, and such like, are the reasons why I am op- 

 posed to the practice of sending cattle from fifty to a 

 hundred rods for water in winter, expressed, however, 

 with due deference to the opininsof more experienced 

 herdsmen. 



WINTER PROTECTION. 



I am aware there are many farmers who think it a, 

 matter of no consequence, whether our domestic ani- 

 mals are afforded any protection from the severity of 

 the winter. It is probably true that most of them 

 will lire through the winter without it, if they are well 

 fed. But are we not targht a lesson on \h'\'i subject 

 from the habits of wild animals? Not oneof them, as far 

 as my recollection extends, is without, or does nottJ 

 provide himself with comfortable shelter or homoH 

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

 which shoidd not be disregarded, that the merciful man 

 is merciful to bis beast ? And where is the farmer, 

 who, by a profusion of the blessings of a merciful 

 Providence is made com.fortoble, can be unmindful oi 

 his domesfic animals, from which he receives his food, 

 and his raiment, and afford them that protection frorai 

 the chilling blasts of winter, by which the^ are ren. 

 dered comfortable not only, but are thereby rendere<|j 

 much more profitable. 



Another veiy great advantage of stabling cattle, !■ 

 the saving of feed from waste. I have seen farmers, 

 otherwise respectable, throw their hay upon the grounik 

 when covered with mud and filth, for the food of cat-t 

 tie, horses and sheep, all in the same yard. In whicuti 

 case one half, at least, of the hay, was trod into thaV' 

 mud and water. But where cattle are stabled, each 

 having his mess by himself, and then the yo'.ingerand 

 weaker animals unexposed to the encroachment of th< 

 older and stronger, consume their food with peaceful' ( 

 ness and contentment, without annoyance and with 

 out waste. ! 



And still another advantage to be derived from thi 

 course of a plentiful use of straw every day in litter t 

 ing the yard and stable is, the animals are not onl; I 

 kept dry and comfortable, but the straw is all turnei 1 

 to a good account. There are many farmers wh( 

 seem not to know what to do with their straw. Yeai 

 alter year it is Bttffercdto acwmnlatein immense pile 



