Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1852-04-15


out such stock. The manures which the
stock would yield him would be auili-
cient TO keep this number of acres in n
fertile condition, and by putting his
grain upon a sward, he would not be
troubled with weeds. Hence the pro-
duce per acre would be much larger,
and his labor in attending the crop far
less. Cattle raising would be profitable
at present prices, especially when lands
needed recruiting by pasturage.
He had attempted to raise sheep, but
quit it because of the loss sustained by
dogs. 1t often happens that, when a
bout TO commit depredations of this kind,
several dogs go together, and thus in one
night the loss is heavy. The first init
nation of such dogs being in the neigh
borhood is this destruction, and then it
is 10 laiet 90 guard against it, If the dogs
could be put out Of the way, sheep rails
ing would he profitable.
Mr. BOLIVIAN said that when a farmer
is about to determine what kind of stock
he will raise, he ought not to look to
present prices alone, but should take in
10 consideration the advantages and dis
advantages of his locality.
II dairy operations cannot be profla-
bly, conducted, then there remains but
two courses 20 pursue. If cows are kept,
they must be of good breeds, otherwise
the expense of keeping the mothers will
take away the profits of the ofispfing.-
Or else the farmer must limit his opera
tons almost entirely to buying up year
llngs at low price, as is the course pur-
sued by the Governor.
Here Mr. NELSON inquired how it
was that yearlings could be bought in
this way.
My friend from Allen, continued Mr.
b lives in the line of sale precedents.
that IS in that part of our State settled
by farmers from Ohio Pennsylvania and
New York. But in the more southern
portions we have many from Slave
States, whose knowledge Of farming does
not go beyond raising hogs aud corn.-
These farmers have two or three COWS.
but do not provide hay enough to keep
the calves through the winter, and who
have no other pasture than the unen-
closed lands. The consequence is, that
about February their stock is in a starving
condition, when they are disposed to sell
the calves very low. 1t was this class
OF farmers too, who keep good many
dogs, hunting foxes and coons at night,
and either sleep in the daytime, or are
unfit TO work. The Southern States had.
nevertheless, afforded many excellent
farmers.
or the ultimate results of corn raising
he had a striking evidence in county
adjoining Monroe. On Joking one Of its
most wealthy farmers and traders about
the numbe of blackberry bushes every
where visible on the uplands, indicating
an exhausted and neglected soil. the farm
or answered that this was owing to corn
having been raised, year after year, until
the land was exhausted, and now it was
seen 10 have been curse to them.
Mr. HATFIELD said that he was a me-
chanlc, but purposing TO turn his atten-
ton to rural subjects. As to the differ
ent kinds OF stock, he came to the con
cluson that on rich bottom lands, hogs
were the most profitable, but uplands.
where the land was easily exhausted
ought to I've cultivated in grass IS for
sheep, cattle and horses. Clover grew
well IN these river bottoms, so that hen
the land become less productive, ii could
be put down in clover and hogs turned
upon it. He had noticed that the farm
ers in the billy lands who raised corn,
did not seem 10 prosper, and indeed the
cornlields showed that they could not
Upon such land there could be no doub
tina, sheep would be the most proflabl,
mode Of farming. Last winter he hac
visited Tennessee, and found that cattle
raising was pursued there to great ex-
tent In the winter the cattle lived up
on the cane, and become fat upon it,
more than in the summer upon grass, lo
then they were troubled with ilies.-
There cattle cost the farmer no NOR,
than the looking after them.