Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1845-05-16
GOV. TENSIONS ADDRESS.

During the next period of ten years, bringing us
to 1880, the agriculture of the county appears to
have been in transition state. The war in Europe
had ceased. The nations of the earth were at
peace. Thousands had returned to the peaceful
art of agriculture. New York had consummated
The great work of the age;as it was then consider
ed, andher rivals, Pennsylvania and Maryland, had
made great progress in opening to the interior
market on the seaboard. An Immense territory OF
, the most fertile character, and favorable to the
growth of grain, was enabled to bring the surplus
Of her abundant crops to compete with ours IN mar
ket. The consequence was, that flour which had
borne an average price for ten years, from 1900 to
1910, of eight dollars and twenty .eig ht cents the
barrel, and from 1910 to 1920 Of nine dollars and
seventy-six cents the barrel, from 1920 to 1880
came down to the average of five dollars and sew
enty-one cents the barrel. From 1880 to $40 the
average price was raised to six dollars and fifty
four cents. This rise caused by the short crops
of 1886 aud 1887, calling for Immense importaons
to supply the county, and raising the price 20 more
than ten dollars the barrel, for those years. Since
1888 it has fallen TO an average, for the last four
years. of four dollars and seventy three cents the
barrei.* This has doubtless exercised an influence
s. on the agriculture of the county.
While some of the farmers had, as main bus-
ness of the farm, embarked in rearing cattle, and
others in increasing their sheep many had not
abandoned the idea that wheat might still be a
staple product of the county for expectation. They
increasing failures in the CROP caused by the ex-
haustion of the SOIL ravages of the Hesslan ny,
spring killing, blight or rust But IN 1877 or 1870
an enemy to the wheat crops appeared, which bal
fled all the efforts of the farmer to evade. The III
sect commonly but improperly called the weevll,-
that name belonging to an insect that preys on the
wheat after it is fully rpened and harvested Inc
insect alluded to is small orange colored maggot
and commits its depredations on the berry while II
the milky state, leaving the head, and almost en-
tirely disappearing from the grain when ripe. b,
late writer in the Cultivator it is called the whea
nudge, [Cecidomyia triticd As early as 1879 1T
ravages had increased, so that in some towns OF thu
county scarcely field escaped Straw promising
!. a heavy Weld, would not in many instances, pa.
for the labor of harvesting. The injury had be
come SO general and so certain, that the sowing Q
winter wheat nearly ceased. A few farmers wit
laudable perseverance, continued to SOW llttl
winter but more spring wheat, varying the time G
sowing with the view of escaping the insect b
getting the crop to rpen out OF Its season.
1t has been observed, that the winter wheo
which comes forward and ripens early, and IN
spring wheat, sown as late as the 2Uth OF May, 0
the western border of the county, usually escape
its ravages, while the later winter and earlier spin
wheat has been much injured.
| am not aware that any thing OF the history
the insect was known, before 1t was discovered,
Washington County, N. Y. or Rutland County,
For two or three years past it has done compar
tlVelY little damage Ill llllS
is spreading to the North and West. From Il
slow progress it has made for sixteen or sevente
years, since il was first noticed, the presumption
strong that it had footing among us Tor years b
fore. However that may be, it is clearly an obJe
TO the farmer to obtain perfect knowledge OF
history and habits, preliminary to avoiding
destructive operations 1t appears the most forn
dable enemy the wheat growerhas ever had to co
tend with in this climate.
When the wheat crop failed those engaged
that business had to resort to some other branch
farming. The tenacious quality Of much of /
soil of the county forbade the cultivation of no
crops and the raising of pork as substitute.
have before remarked, that the merino sheep i
been spread through the county with wonder
rapidly. Indeed, SO rapidly was the character
focks changed, that as early as 1924, IN ms
towns of the.county considerable flock OF nat
sheep could noHbe found; every person rails
wool for sale having, to greater or less extent,
proved the quality and consequently improved
price Of his WOOL The increase Of sheep was
some extent retarded by the low prices obtained
wool for several years previous to 1879. The ia
laws of 1916 and 1924 failed to give such prot
ton to the manufacturer of wool as to encouraa
vigorous prosecution of the business. Many m
ufactories, established during the war, and I'M
diatey thereafter, were compelled to suspend Oh
&. CONDENSED from New York Price Current.