The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1857-10-07
Wheat Crop in Vermont.
From the New England Farmer.

Mr.. Brown Il thought it might be
a matter of interest to the numerous read
ers Of the Nea0 ENGLAND Farmer, to
learn something of wheat raising in this
section of Vermont In this busy age Of
the world when most of the young men
and many, of the more advanced in life
are leaving their native New England
hills for homes in the far West the ad-
vantages of New Ebglapd farming and
the native richness of New England lauds
more particularly ip Maine ard Vermont
are lost sight Of e. ...r.
But to the direct object of this com
munication. My neighbor, John L. Low.
ering, Esq, sometime in the 1851, pro.
cured of the late s. w. Cole, one quart
of the variety of wheat known as the
"Kloss, Banner or more gen orally
as the white Blue Stem" This wheat
was from half bushel furnished the edi,
tor of the Neao England Farmer by the
Hon. Rufus MoIntire, Parsonfeld, Me,
the straw of which is represented iu V ol.
l., No. 22, of the Farmer as growing
to the height of four or five feet.
MIR. Lowering sowed his quart of wheat
iu the autumn of 1852 and in :he au,
tumn of 1853 picked the heads by hand
that he might keep bis seed free from
other foul seeds, In subsequent harvest
ings great carefulness was observed to
keep out these foul seods and with per.
feet success. The wheat seemed admi-
rably adapted to our soil and climate en-
during the winter we'll and yielding boun-
tifully. Last autumn, as early as the
fourth day of August, having properly
prepared his land, Mr. Lowering sowed
fvo and ouehalf acres to this White
Blue Stem" No portion of the field win
ter-killed, and previous to harvesting the
straw measured from FIVE to six feet.
Three weeks since, the wheat was throsh-
ed and measured, and two hundred and
twelve bushels was the result. AS there
was no cleaning or after raking, and as
much Of the straw was six feet 10 length
large number of heads fell from the fin
gers Of the cradle, and the amount thus
left upon the ground could not havo fal.
len short of eight bushels giving as the
entire yield Of the field two hundred and
twenty bushels , or forty bushels to the
acre.
The measured bushel Of this wheat
weighs sixty.three pounds Two bush.
els ground at our mill at Queecby Vii.
lage, made but few ounces less than nine
ty-niuo pounds of the best -four Four
bushels Of this wheat will make barrel
Of -four. .5...
This is the third crop taken from this
piece Of land since manuring That the
real value Of the soil in Vermont is little
understood by persons cmigratipg West
is unquesionably true. The fortunes
that have been made in the West have
not been the legitimate result Of agricul,
tural industry, but in most cases have
been realized by speculations in real es
tate. And in hearing of an occasional
fortunate Spectator who las attained
great wealth, we are blinded to the thou
sand less fortunate who have endured
and are still enduring severe privations
for q scanty substance
DANIEL NEEDHAM.
Hartford 70, Sept. l0th, 1857.
REaARYs BY THE EDIToa The above
is a great whet story but we know Col.
Needham. the writer and Mr.. Lowering.
the producer of the wheat; both are
men of integrity and intelligence. and we
place entire confidence in the statements
made. Such product is seldom obtain
cd by the most successful wheat-growers.
We agree with the writer's opinion, that
the capacity of Vermont soil is not gen.
orally understood. Our late visit to
Montpelier and the region about it has
satisfied US that much of the Vermont
soil can scarcely be excelled by that of
any State, and that the land, literally,
is one flowing with milk and honey. The
facts communicated by Col. Needham
will greatly encourage farmers to produce
at least their own -four. 81.