Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1868-01-31
Grafton Industrial Association.

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Grafton Industrial Association.
Grafton Industrial Association met a
the residence of S. ID. Conant, January
22d, Henry Walker, Esq, presided. tn,
subject for discussion being, "The bes
method of preparing the soil for the va
rious crops adapted to this climate"
Mr.. II. S. DAVIS said pillow the lane
thoroughly, leave no soil in reach of tn,
pillow point undisturbed. Disappointment
in harvest is often the result of neglect
in this respect. The soil must be thor
oughly broken and rendered mellow OF
roots cannot penetrate it, consequently nc
benefit is derived from it. No one could
till wet and cold land with profit, such
land should first be drained and rendered
fit for cultivation. For most crops he
would pillow in the spring, then spread
the manure and harrow till it was well
mixed with the soil. For corn and gar
den vegetables preferred old manure, but
potatoes do better where, strawy manure
is applied the yield is as large and less
likely to decay.
Capt. III. G. 0. HOWARD, said it was of
the first Importance that land should be
well plowed. This could be done with
very few plows now in use, most plows
were no more fit for the use for which
they were intended, than hencoop is for
a scalding tub. Plows should be SO con-
structed that they will turn the furrow
Hat; he would prefer to pillow in the fall,
and vary the depth of blowing according
to the amount of manure to be used, with
small quantity, pillow lightly, but deep
blowing and free use of manure is much
preferable.
l. GLYNN, ESQ, said for corn he would
pillow in the spring and not until near the
time for planting. He would spread the
manure and place it under. The proper
ties OF manure that produce growth do
not go down, but if left on the surface
and exposed to the sun and air they
evaporate and much of their value is
lost. Strawy manure plowed under is
equal IN value and for potatoes prefer
able to any other.
A. PUTNAM, Esq, said different quail
ties of soil required different treatment.
Light sandy soil should be plowed in
spring and the furrow laid fiat, but clay
soil should be plowed in fall and the fur
rows should lap. In either case fertiliz-
'rs should be kept near the surface.
Mr.. J. w. WRIGHT said his experience
had been in culivating hill land. 1t
should be plowed deep and we'll; ma
lure should be spread and Thoroughly har-
owed for corn he would use ashes or
Phosphate in the hill. Manure should
e one year old before it was used: he
lad seen the experiment tried with two
elds OF wheat and the one where the old
manure was applied produced double the
mount of the one where green manure
vas used.
f. PHELPS said he owned but small
uantity Of land, but had been allowed
or several years past to till the lands of
is neighbor Butterfeld, and while it was
'utterfield's object to have the land left
the best condition to produce grass. he,
vas after the present crops. He applied
ertillzers near the surface and at hoeing
ndeavored to draw them near the corn.
lie succeeded well with his crops and
'utterheldIs grass grew finely after he
eft the field Therefore he believed in
laelng fertilizers near the surface. /
;. ID. CoNANT said experiments tried
nth the greatest care by himself and
theirs had demonstrated very satisfacto-
ly to his mind that the best results we're
ealized by blowing manure under from
nree to four inches deep. He would
low IN spring eight inches deep, roll
own the burrows, spread the manure and
len cross plow from three to four inches
eep. l.. S. WALKER.
h Secretary.