Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1851-02-13
Brief Chat with the Farmers.

There Is no mistake about it, you are in luck
this waiter; and with prudence and close watch
Of the markets, lol course yop tase newspaper
to know all about them) you will stand more
than an even chance to be in luck every year.
oats The prediction that the railroad was to
kill off all the stage horses, and ruin the market
for oats, turns out to be a mistake. Never was
the demand for oats at a good price more GER
tain 1t is a safe crop; we think you may raise
few more the coming season without risk.
Potatoes. Literally golden harvest" to ma
ny Of you; but don't get crazy, AMI put al your
land into potatoes At best. in these days, it is
an uncertain crop; consequently The demand for
potatoes, at such rates as the present will be I'M
certain depending upon the next crops in Maine
and further cast If you have soil adapted to
the potatoe, and likely to give a fair crop put in
the polatoes--Selcet sorts, for market, mind you
One bushe of lirst rate baking potatoes is worth
at least two bushels Of common. There is this
to be borne in mind; if next years market is
down, the starch factories viii use up the sur
plus, if any.
Uooi. Did you notice the remarks Of the Dry
Goods Reporter New York copied in last weeks
Watchman? Probably every reader who has
wool to sell, saw the article. That is not enough
for our purpose; we wish to bring it to the at
tention Of farmers who have sheep pastures, but
no focks Said the Reporter of Jan. Dist:
"A faint idea of of the present high rates of
wool may be obtained from the fact that lot OF
wool was sold in this market last week at 50 ,
cents. The same quality, from the same town,
sold IN 1886 lthe year OF the lniaton,) at 45 cts.
"We cannot hold out much inducement TO
hope for n decline, even If the clip of 1851
should be increased % per cent. as the increased
machinery viii call for IS per cent. MORE
Many are astonshed that the demand for fine
woods should be so much larger than last year.
An inspection of the fancy cassimeres now open
ing will, however, solve this apparent mystery.
as the goods will be found lighter and finer than
in previous years"
Now the Reporter has hitherto been anything
but sanguine about wool maintaining its price. Ia
the face OF vastimports of foreign woolens and
low prices for the manufactured article, the Re-
porter has thought that the prices of wool could
not be maintained nor have we been surprzed
that it should think so. But the yankee manu.
facturers have not been idle they make finer
goods than ever of fine wool, aud the other quail
tiles of wool go into articles of comparatively re-
cent manufacture in this country, such as muslin
de LANES, fine carpets, and "Bay State Shawls."
Then there is another fact, we guess, favorable
to the wool-grower: the increase of population
to be clothed is greater than the increase of wool
to clothe them. There is also faint prospect
that the Tariff will be improved. On the whole,
we think wool growing may again be worth try
ing in Vermont.
Gentlemen, remember zoe are not farmers: SO
take all this for what it appears, in your better
Judgment, to be worth.