Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1867-09-05


not required for bedding upon the clean
tiled floors OF the stalls, the only con-
sciousness In the difference of occupancy
by the family and their component men,
bers from the meadows, is from the pecu-
liarity of the difference OF natures. In
the barn sheds were number of calves
of the same distinctive color as has been
observed.
The temperature OF the enclosure was
oppressively hot. And we should think
II inhumaI as well as materially ipjuri-
Gus to subject our young stock to a SINH
lar absence of fresh air and comfort.
We demonstrated against it, but the
farmers surprise at the suggestion was
the best comment upon his want of APP
probation of its effects. may however
here remark, that in all Of the barn and
stock keeping compartments upon the
continent, this same restitution Of ven-
tilatlon and fresh air has been noticed.
Your readers may ask, If there were not
in the houses, parlors, spare chambers,
china closets, pantry, and pretensions to
civilization and more refined life? Yes,
up a pair OF short, steep narrow stairs
you find one room as tie best or company
room. The simplicity Of its furnishing
TO lady of Fifth Avenue residence
might suggest its being depository of
curious china cups, dishes and orna-
ments curious cabinet with drawers,
&C., but not drawing room or saloon.
You see no beds in any room. But If
your Yankee curiosity has not been sati-
ated and become dormant, by opening
what appears as large cupboard doors,
you will find these singular appendages,
dutch beds and boilers, in the big
closets.
The very great attention paid to the
preservation of manure not only in Hol.
land but all over the continent of Eu-
rope, attracts the attention Of every in
terested person, in the development and
progress of agriculture. The house and
barn are (hardly without an exception)
part and portion of the same building.
The manure heap is in as close proximi
ty to the door Of the house. as to that OF
the barn. 1t is arranged in large square
mass as it daily accumulates. The
quantity Of straw thrown into it shows
a prolific use, if not waste of it. The
liquid portion collects in cistern pre-
pared for it, or at the basin-fo formed bot.
tom of the heap. In many instances the
mass is wetted thoroughly by water
poured upon it, for the purpose of in
creasing the quantity of the liquid. Not
only is every particle most scrupulously
saved around the premises, but it is col
lected in wheelbarrows and baskets from
the streets and roads by women and
children. Artificial fertilizers are rarely
met with. And the use OF the refuse of
the barn and pen is we'll understood here
as being the most valuable of any kind
Of stimulant or fertilization of the soil.
One-half of the labor in this respect
applied to the same purpose at home as
here, would add most greatly to the pro-
ductiveness of our soils. suppose the
question Of its being the most valuable
is not debatable, SO prominent is the
fact. And l never see at home this
source of the farmers success neglected
and exposed without protection to the
intense heats of summer, or the disin-
tegrating effects of the severe weather
and frosts of winter; leached by the
summers rain, and penetrating storms
of now and hail, without placing very
low estimate upon the intelligence and
success of him who is so careless and
improvident. Here this mass of matter
is al most regarded as the ornamentation
of the door-yard. What the atmosphere
and annoyance from it must be is mat
ter of easy conjecture. What the absence
Of it would be to the peasant may be
imagined from the almost veneration by
which it is prepared. Its application to
the soil is broadcast on the surface, or
blowing in. The liquid portion is car
ried to the field in hogsheads, tubs and
buckets according to the thrift of the
peasant in his ability to use the labor of
his horses, oxen or cows, or as by the
poorer classes by women (again) and
children. The soil is most thoroughly
worked; constant use of plows, spades,
harrows of most ancient construction,
keep it pulyerized. A rotation of crops
is systematically followed. Potatoes are
generally the first crop, then rye, then
buck wheat, clover succeeds, and this
generally is the stereotype of Dutch
farming.
The whole of Holland, (when avail
able,) is q picture of agricultural sue
cess, in crops, the products of the dairy,
and the unlimited quantity of neat
stock, which are sold to almost every
adjoining country, but the more espe-
cially, are a principal source of supply
to the English markets.