St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1868-04-17
Farming in BGrtoH, Jermont.

The pleasant and thriving village OF
Barton. Orleans County. Vt. was for Il
few wears the terminus OF the Ia->umpSic
River Railroad. and received treat bene-
fit from the business TRANSACTED here with
the surrounding country. some thought
it would hardly survive the withdrawal
OF business consequent on the extension
OF the road TO Canada line. But "A very
superior water power had SO attracted
capitalists that the village still continues
To grow rapidly in wealth and popula-
ton. Another desirable feature is the
cooperation of the village residents with
the farmers in carrying out plans and en-
terprises Tor the public good. 1t was
this regard for each others welfare that
enabled them so easily to raise three
thousand dollars to fit up Il fair ground
and present its use TO the County Agri-
cultural Society for five years. This
society has one executive committec in
each town. Barton is represented by
Thomas Baker, whose stock and farming
operations are worthy of extended notice.
During Il recent visit there | made a few
notes. the substance of which NAV inter-
est my fellow farmers.
His farm consists of seven hundred
acres. He has now four hundred sheep.
well bred AIerinos. that Weld a washed
fleece OF about five pounds each They
are divided into four principal tiocks and
occupy the lower story of his barns. They
are fed from racks around the sides of
the sheds, after the pattern described in
the 'Practical Shepherd" Light is let
i'll through windows and not through
cracks, and when the doors are closed
the air is warmed by the breath of the
sheep so rs to be very comfortable. At
the time of my visit he was fattening
about one hundred wethers that were to
90 to market about the first Of March.
They are fine woolcd, yet valuable Us
mutton sheep. He has no intention of
abandoning wool growing, but is still
improving his flock.
Mr.. Bakers dairy consists of twenty
seven cows of good sized and thrifty ap-
pcarancc. Many Of them were raised
on the farm, and appeared to be Devon
grades. There is here also the commence
ment of Il herd OF Dutch or Holstein cat
tie, and us there are but few OF the kind
in this section L will more particularly
describe them.
They are in degree connected with the
stock of w. W. Chenery of Belmont,
Mass, but were bought of Carlos Pierce,
Stanstead, z. @. The color is clear
black, with spots Of pure white. The
horns black and short. As no scales
were convenient, l will give the measure
ment of the animals-the length being
from the base of the horns TO the back
end of the body.
The bull "IIollandic." 2 years 6
months; girt, & feet inches length 8
feet 8 inches height 4 feet inches.
Heifer, "Beauty," l year 3 months ;
girt, 3 feet l inch; length, 5 feet G
inches height, 3 feet inches.
Calf, , months old; girt, 3 feet :
inches; height, 3 feet s inches.
Cow, 9 years old length, : feet, but
thin in flesh on account of allowing the
calf TO run with her the first month. 1t
is now allowed to suck at regular hours.
This cow is a good satisfactory milker,
but is now kept soely for stock COW.
These four are all the cows in the dairy
will have half blood calves this season.
Mr.. Baker has been breeding the
White Chester hogs and is well satisfied
with their early maturity and great
weight. He has four sows that are like
" to breed this year.
This stock with the addition of six
oxen and several horses, requires the con-
slant attendance and all the time of one
man.
The large quantity of hay for the cat