Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1840-07-29
Agricultural.
From the New England Farmer.
ssFANCY FARMERs''.
JAMAICA PLAIN. 18th June. Ie4

JAMAICA FLAINs l0bh SuhOs WV
MIR. CoIman-Dear Sir-A neighbor
sent me, a day or two since. the Boston
"CuItivator" Of the 18th inst, thinking l
might like TO see notice on "FGncy
Farmers" without knowing Ishonld feel
any interest in that piece. That paper L
have never seen three numbers of since
its first publication, having always been
well satisfied with the N. E. Farmer,
which have taken from its commence
ment
The article on large premiums on
PlOHghs, was brought 10 the notice of the
Trustees Of the Mass. Agricultural
Society by me. l was one of the trustees
OF that society for twenty years, and re-
tired from it six or seven years ago.
still feel great interest in 1t, and am a
firm believer in its having done and its still
continuing to do, much good to the far
ming interest. They were the first in
America to recommend ploughing match
es, which was the means OF such improve
ments in ploughs, that although at their
first match in 1917, only one with iron
mould board was in the match, land
which imported from London, at their
last match in which twenty-five ploughs
were tested, eveTy one soas of cast iron.
This result was brought about by the
means, as the editor oflhe Cultivator styles
them, of " fancy farmers.
Now as to the mode Of ploug Ching,
whether the furrow slice should be laid
fiat or on the edge, have always thought
for our New England farming, the fiat
mode was preferable. But 1 also know
from book reading, that in England
where much wheat is raised, they very
generally use machines for sowing in
rows, and afterwards machines drawn by
horse and guided by man. to hoe and
weed between the rows; and they also lay
the furrow slice on edge and sow broad
cast, by which means the grain slides to
the bottom Of the furrow, and the harrow
drawn lengthways, levels the earth and
leaves the seed in rows; by which means
the air draws more freely through it; and
It IS also by many farmers hand-hoed and
weeded, and not allowed to grow, weed.
and all, as is much the case in other coun
tries, smothering the crop and producing
more weeds than grain.
In our ploughing matches at Brighton
one of the chairmen of those committee:
usually directed the ploughmen to lay tn,
furrow slice on edge.
You will perceive, sir, notwithstanding
the sneering of he aforenamed editor,
am not to be laughed out of nv plough
ing notions, which are not of yesterday.
This Is not great grain growing State
but our premiums for ploughs extend t.
every State in the Union, and they are 70
the use of any other State where mucl
grain is cultivated.
Now as to the reason for the premium
at ALL was invited three years ago
act on the premium committee on agricul
tura implements at the mechanics shoy
in Faneuil hall. Ploughs by several {
our best makers were there. / stated ths
] could not give an opinion which wa
BEST without seeing them tested in tn
earth; last autumn again declined actin
on that committee for the same reason
THAT Society are not prepared to max
such trials.l Several OF these plough
makers came to me on the subject, to Sc
how this could be brought about, and tn
premiums now offered by the Massachu
sets Agricultural Society, are in const
quence Of my request to the Trustees.
am sorry 10 see an editor of an ayr
cultural paper still using the term " fame
farmers or "book farmers by whom
many experiments have been made ths
would not probably otherwise have bee
attempted--many of which may hav
been found too expensive, but many ais
have resulted in much good-and thos
have been copied and continued. Whf
also are editors of papers doing, but dis
seminating their weekly papers, the chi,
contents Of which are but copies fror
books or other papers.
Iam dear sir,
Yours varv trrl,y