Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1860-02-09
Letters From a Farm No. 8.

Cne Gays Degln 10 lengtnen, ana through the
vista Of recurring months, We contemplate
the duties and abors of another season.
Winter is passing, and with it the period for
study, reflection and enjoyment and is this
time being improved Perhaps the results
of the future, alone, can determine this.
Although some maintain that winter is
quiet, inactive time for the farmer, Jet if due
regard is had toward facilitating the labors
OF spring and summer, this certainly need not
be the case.
Th-re are many duties that claim attention
at this season of the year. The huge pile of
ready prepared frewood, that we find in the
yard Of every thrifty farmer-and who knows
better the meaning of this term than the far
mer himself?-is an item Of no small ac-
count. What days and weeks of tol has it
required to fabricate the contents of that pile,
until it has become the pride of the archi-
tect, and the comfort and pleasure Of his
family. What farmer is Thereon other per-
son-that, in this land of forests, would forego
tn s ready means of enjoyment? Now is the
time to attend to this, and save future trouble
an discomfort.
Then there is the preparation for the erec-
ton Of buildings drawing lumber, stone, &C.,
which adds another item to winters work.
Farmers are looking on the side Of improve
ment and the view pleasos them, hence good
and commodious buildings are found to be in
dispensable on every well regulated farm es
tablishment. Add to this, the removing of
fences, Or the getting out and preparing of
new material; the hauling of manure to dis
tant parts o. the farm, which can be done
better now, than at any other time, the care.
full attention to stock, and the numerous other
things to be performed, and methinks the
farmer ned not be idle much of his time.
But amid all these duties he has some leis,
ure days, which, added to the long evenings,
afford an opportunity for contemplation, for
the interchange Of ideas with his neighbours,
and the reading Of works adapted to his oc-
cupation, which should be carefully improved.
But the time for this social and mental
improvement is quickly passing; the period
when we are to put that which we find to be
of interest, into practical operation, is near
at hand, therefore we should make the most
of the present
Experience is said to be the best teacher,
and certain it is, that What we learn in this
way, we are apt to remember. Practically,
every farmer has method by which he per-
forms all his abors, and al different men
have different opinions, so they will not pur-
sue the sane course mot until at least, they
find one that is better than their own. Pro.
ducts alone, can determine this. Vermont is
q great corn-growing State, but there are
many methods by which the grain i produced,
and good methods, too, still we want to know
the best. Now, if every man that thinks he
has the best way, will communicate the same
for the benefit Of others, why, then, we could
Judge for ourselves, or, what is better, try the
different methods, and then judge.
If farmer has experimental for FIVE or
ten years with a kind of grain, and has sue,
ceeded in finding method OF cultivation, SUI
perior to all others tried, he is performing a
noble, a generous act, when he gives the de-
tails, or rather result, of his experiments to
tao public, and we save much labor and vex-
alton in following his plan, in preference to
going through with the same tedious process,
to find the same result he has given u.s. This
plan is not only beneficial, SO far as regards
one kind of grain, but embraces the whole
list Of farm productions. Some say there is
much to he gained in the changing of seed, as
often as once in two or three years. This is
probably true. Wheat does much better to
be often changed, or if seed Of the same va.
riety is obtained from a different kind of SOIL
it yields considerably more, than from that
sown for successive seasons on the same land.
There are many kinds of wheat, that it will
pay to experiment with, as every farmer
should, it his lands are adapted to this grain,
raise sufficient for home use. Potatoes do
considerably better when often changed. Oats
would, probably, be benefited in the same
manner, though they need not be changed as
often. Corn can be much improved, if care
is maintained in the cultivation and selection,
and perhaps change would produce better re-
sults-at least, some vGraeties would be ben
Gifted ia this way. FARMER