Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1845-08-14
VOL. xxx, NO. 4O.--wHOLE NO 2ooe


vantages OF water which hilly or mountainous
country anoros are 100 often overlooked, or not
duly valued We have passed through sections.
where the farmers during drouth of not unusual
continuance, were obliged to drive their stock miles
for WATER and even then were forced to raise the
water by slow and laborious process from deem
well. If the Vermont farmers should be placed
for while in such a situation, they would be able
TO form some idea of the worth of their numerous
springs and mountain rivulets.
The time allotted to our excursion was so short
as to preclude the possibility of particularly exam
lnng a very large portion of the State. Our OBJ
servations were confined chiefly to the counties of
Addison and Chttenden, which are situated on the
west of the Green Mountain range, bordering on
Lake Champlain, and comprising, perhaps, the most
fertile portion of Vermont Under their appropri-
ate heads we propose to speak briefly of the differ
ent subjects to which our attention was attracted
SOFIA considerable portion of the soil of this
district is calcereous clay, often strongly tenacious,
based on what biologists term transition or siluran
limestone. This is more particularly the character
OF the valies and lower parts of the district. The
soil OF the bills and higher parts, lying above the
limestone, has in its composition larger proportion
OF sand, and of course partakes also of the nature
of the slaty rocks of which the hills formed
In most cases gypsum operates well on these soils
We learned a remarkable instance of its effects
from Mr. Rodman Chapman, of Vergennes. He
had some casks of plaster which had been wet in
freshet, hauled out some barren clay knolls and
spread over the ground. The effect was to clothe
the ground with the most luxurious growth of white
clover, blue grass, and yellow trefo-a plant or
two of the latter having come up accidentally from
which 1t was spread over nearly the whole field
The sward on the lot (which we examined) still
fine, and product of heritage great. .
Cultiuaiion.As before remarked the plow is
not extensively used in this section of the country
the object of the farmer being generally to raise
only about the quantity of grain and vegetables re-
qured for home consumption. 1t is, however, stat
ed by those best qualified to know, that Addison
county produced last year considerable of bread
stuffs, beyond supplying the inhabitants. Wheat
has been less cultivated since 1880, than formerly,
owing to the attack of the wheat nudge, (Cecido-
Byid hitic) For the last two or three years, this
insect has been diminishing, and a knowledge of
this fact encouraged the farmers to SOW this grain
more extensively last season than they had done
several years before. Spring wheat is the kind
generally sown-winter wheat being less certain
to yield well. But since it has been ascertained
that the injurious insect before mentioned is dnn-
ishing, some farmers have concluded to try winter
wheat, and we were shown several small lots which
were very promising. The Back-sea spring wheat
is considered most hardy, and on this account has
commonly the preference. Yield, from twenty to
forty bushels per acre.
Indian Corn is cultivated with success on some
of the lighter and warmer soils. On the best lands
and with good cultivation it frequently yields six
ty, and sometimes eighty bushels per acre. We
were shown many samples Of this grain which were
as bright and heavy we ever saw. Mr.. S. w.
Jewett has variety, which, for northern latitude.
we think highly superior 1t is twelve rowed
corn, but has been greatly improved by selection.
The cob is small and completely covered with corn,
packed in the closest possible manner. Oats are
sure crop, and produce from forty to seventy-five
bushels to the acre.
Potaioes flourish remarkably WE'LL and are of su-
perior quality. The yield is two hundred to five
hundred bushels per acre. They are in some in
stances used for the purpose of fatenng stock, and
for feeding sheep and store cattle through the win
ter. Those who have tried potatoes for this pur-
pose speak very highly of them. Other vegetables
in some instances cultivated for feeding stock.
Mr. w. Chapman, Of Middlebury, is much in favor
of the sugarbeet He has tried it for store stock,
and to some extent for attening cattle. In Febru-
airy, 1912, he killed hefer, fatted wholly beets
and hay, two years and nine months old, which
weighed, dressed S38 pounds, and had 1876 pounds
loose tallow. Mr. c. contends that beef fatted on
this root is much more sweet, tender, and juicy,
than when fatted with meal.
We understand that it is very uniform practice
in this district to manure the ground intended for
corn and for potatoes very heavily. Where from
the nature of the soil or the DEAFNESS of labor las
is the case here) it is expedient to cultivate much
land believe this to be the true 1t takes
but little more labor to cultivate an acre which is
made SO rich that it will yield sixty or seventy
bushels of corn or four hundred bushels of pota-
toes, than to cultivate which will produce only
half as much.
We noticed that the manures from stables and
sheep-pens spread very thick over the ground
and plowed in by deep furrow. If it were not
for the fact that the quantity of is SO great
that it is difficult to bury mix it properly with
the soil, we should say it was plowed in too deep.
We in favor of deep tillage for general pur-
poses but there are two ways of performing it
deep blowing with the common pow, and using the
sub-soil pillow in the furow after the common one
Where the sub-soil is cold and wet, we decidedly
prefer using the sub-soil pillow. Where the sub
soil is so composed that pulverizaton and aration
are only required to render it FERTILE it may be ad.
vantageous to break and bring it to the surface by
the common pillow. We feel confident, however
that in the region of which we speak the sub-soil
pillow might be used in many cases with excellent
effect.