Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1860-11-15

perfection OF soil and climate. Whereas,
the true cause or causes of failure may have
had nothing to do with the apparent unsuc-
cess Of legitimate farming. This year the
American has good cause to rejoice.
We have had much wet woather-some
severe frosts in the night time, and even
snow. But we seldom have very heavy
fall without day or two Of intcrmission :;
though We cannot count with any approxima-
ton Of certainty on fine weather at this sea-
son beyond, perhaps, twenty-four hours.
The ordinary changes, from fair to foul
weather, come very suddenly from the au-
tumnal equinox till the opening Of spring.
There is a frequent disposition in this
country to plough too much. If smaller
extent on some farms were under the
plough, and properly drained, MANFRED and
titled, the returns would be more satisfactory,
and the labor and outlay less in proportion.
We arc glad to observe, however, very per-
ceptible improvement in ploughing, and the
other field operations; and from the emula-
tion produced at our various poughing
matches, and other causes. there is every
reason for the confident hope that the pro-
gressve improvement will be all that we
could reasonably desire, taking the past and
present into view. 1t is impossible to har-
row an iI-ploughed surface satisfactorily,
while it is left, besides, in bad condition
for draining and drying. When soils, sat
uratcd with water, become dried up by hot
sun, they bake up as hard as bricks, and be-
come ill adapted to sustain healthy vegeta-
ton while the roots of weeds cannot be
brought to the surface by the harrows; and
being thus firmly established in the soil,
shoot ahead Of the sown seeds, and speedily
overpower them. Sown grass seeds share
the same fate. Although draining should be
pursued at all convenient seasons, a large
proportion should be executed in the ia II,
to secure the good condition of the soil in
the following spring, against sowing time,
Attention to live stock, thrashing and
carting Of manure, procuring fenco and fire
wood, and disposing Of the surplus produce,
will be the chief employment of the winter,
But there can be no doubt, that, in the great
majority Of cases, the average produce of
our arabic lands is not near what it might be
by more careful cultivation, and attention to
draining, wedding aud manuring. Every
pound of produce sold and consumed in our
towns and cities, should be returned to the
country in the shape Of manure, in order to
maintain the productiveness of our FARMS
Otherwise, without cxtraneous supplies Of
manurcs, either ordinary or artificial, we are
practicing game Of exhaustion. Now this
must have its limits. The hest OF land can
not continue always giving without receiving
an equivalent, without becoming, in time, al
most valueess for the purposes of cultivation
This deserves serious consideration. 1t is
the interest Of the city that the fertility of
the country should be maintained.
We arc sorry to hear of the prevalence Of
the potstoe disease. Hay was short crop,
and We must be careful Of our fodder. No
time should be lost in securing Beets, Man
gold Wurtzel, Carrots and Ruta Baga. Cab
bagcs should be harvested Immediately after.
Lose no time in replanting choice trees in
your orchards where injured, OR killed out by
the severity of past seasons These should
certainly be planted this month 1t is too
bad that you should not have rich fruit
harvest every year, when it is so easily OBJ
taircd, in spite of occasional severe and un
lucky seasons by keeping up your stock Of
healthy trees.
Sec that sufficient room is provided to shell.
ter all your stock at night. Take care that
the racks are so constructed as to prevent
waste Hasten fattcning stock for the butch.
cr. Give pumpkins, beets, carrots, turnips
with corn or meal as convenient. Take care
taat the buildings are storm, proctor the win.
ter Cattle are now looking to the barn, as
pastures arc failing, on which they will
soon have to depend entirely. A long win
ter is before you, 50 give them 10 more than
they can cat up entirely; yet let them have
abundance. Let your milk COWS have good
supply Of green food, including pumpkins
turnips bccts, &C., to keep them in full milk
Every animal should come to the barn in
good flesh. Look to your cellars while pro
viding them with thorough ventilation take
care to bank up sufficiently, and secure the
door way ard windows against the ingress o.
frost Once more we would urge efficient
draining on cur friends. 1t ought to be pur
sued at all seasons, but this is favorable sea-
sou-providing for spring growing Threst
grain; and this season especially, be carelu
of TIE straw for feeding and bedding. Cut
hay and straw, when feeding it out, moistened
and mixed with meal and bran No farm
should wanta straw and root cutter Coos
food for your hogs, and have them ready early
See to your ico-houses. See that sheep have
abundance Of feed, When in goo& flesh at
the beginning, they 60 through the winter
with far less risk. Where sown, keep stock
off winter grain this month. Collect leaves
in orchard and forest for bedding, and to in.