Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1847-04-29
A9rtGulturol.
From
Farming.

RAJ HlIDS'
The PRoFITs OF FARMING-an interesting and
fruitful subject-still continues the topic of de-
bate at the meetings of the LEGISLATIVE AGR1-
CULTURAL SOCIETY On Tuesday evening, March
81 according to the Boston Travellers report the
following proceedings occurred:
Mr.. Clary, Of Conway, presented the statement
Of the corn crops Of ten farms in the town of Con-
way, the average of which, per acre, was over
100 bushels. And this was the produce of ordi-
nary land, well cultivated. The seed was the
eight-rowcd Dutton corn. The land was enrich
ed with from 80 to 40 common ox-cart loads of
manure, IS or 80 of which were plowed in and
the remainder put into the hills. Sheep manure
was preferred by his neighbors for the hills; and
this was carried out early in the spring and put
into large piles from which it was taken at plant
ing time. The hills of corn were placed 3 or
3 l-2 feet apart, and at the second hoeing hand
full of ashes was put on each hill. Four stalks
were generally allowed to stand in a hill. In an
swer to the question, whether the farmers in Con-
way thought that there was any profit in farming,
Mr. C. said that farmer in that town, who was
now 60 years DID, had remarked to him, that be-
sides bringing up and educating a family he had
been able to lay by from the profits of his farm
about 500 a year
Mr. Wheeler of birmingham, in further illus
traton of the profits of farming stated that
young farmer in the town F., from farm Of
GA acres, sold 500 worth of produce the last
year. His wife did all the work of the house
and he all the work out doors, except eight day,
labor which he hired.
Mr.. Merriam of Tewksbury, illustrated the
profits of draining and cutivating bog lands. He
had acres of land that was considered utterly
worthless; he ditched around and cross ditcheC
it, using the peat for fuel and the mud for com
post; then carted on sand and loan in the win
ter, and sowed it down. 1t cost him about $7l
The first year he cut six tons of pretty good ha,
from the three acres, for the first CROP whcl
on about FIVE cords of manure, and mixed it u
with the sand, at a cost of about $50; and iron
the three acres he cut the second year, 8 tons O
first rate English hay, worth Sl2S.
Mr. Leonard of Marshfeld, believed that farm
ing promoted the greatest good of the creates
. number 1t afforded competence, with healtl
long life, peace of mind and happiness, beyon
any other business BY the returns of deaths
the Secretarys office of the Commonwealth,
appeared that the average age of farmers was g.
of professional men 50, and of manufacturers an
mechanics 46.
S Mr. Sheldon of Wilmington, said the profits
e farming depend on economy and good manag
ment. He dilated particularly on theimportanC
IS of the good management of children. The
= should be learned to work and that early
l. great deal of labor might be got out of chidre
u and they be the better for it.
e Mr. SANGER of Dover urued the important
,r of farmers keeping accurate accounts Dr. and u
lie if they would thrive by farming.
is Mr. Parker of Sudbury, bought poor, ru
e. down farm of 100 acres, for $4,000, from Whit
90 not more than two tons of hay could be cut; al
to he had succeeded in IL years in raising 40 to-
ok of hay, 1874 bushels of oats, and 100 bushels
N, corn year. and in three years he expected
he cut 100 tons of hay For many acres ofthis Ian
no which cost him Sl7 an acre, he had refus
to 800 an acre. He had two acres Of peat Ian