National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1868-02-28
Bradford Farmers Club.

tiVdtbhCut manly VI Oii lax LIS aiC IL
ceiylng they are running down.
Thinks the principal waste is, in
selling off the crops and not return !
ing an equivalent. Thinks a certain
portion of the nourishment Ofplants |
is derived from the atmosphere and
if we turn under the vegetation and
let it decompose we save much that
would otherwise be lost and in this
way improve our farms.
NJ. II. Chambcrlin hardly knows
where to begin to enumerate the
waste Of our farms. But one source
of waste is in not keeping the proper
kinds of stock. Another is, in not
keeping our stock in as good con-
dition as we should. Knows by eX-
peIience that it costs no more to keep
a sheep that will shear 6 pounds of
wool than one that will only shear
81 or 4 pounds. 1t is subject too
little thought OF.
ID. X. Andross-One great farm
waste is in our cold barns. Our
stat les should be so warm that ma
nure will but seldom freeze in them.
Ridiculed those who called them
selves farmers and yet allowed their
cattle and sheep to travel out of the
yard for water, instead of having
running water or a good pump in the
yard. The manure thus wasted
would go far TO enrich the farms if
properly saved. Much is also vast
ed il the heating of manures in the
heap which should never be allowed.
He gave some of the farmers present,
some lard hits concerning their
practices, but confessed that he was
also guilty Of the same offences
Thinks the country would be better
OF if farmers would grow more wool
and cultivate less land. Thinks
river farmers raise far more now
than they formerly did.
A. W. Nourse wished to know
why clover WAS preferable to other
crops to turn under as he had heart!
it was.
| j. X, Davis said that it is fact
that admits Of no doubt, that all
plants derive n portion Of. their nu-
trimeut from the atmosphere and the
broad leaved ones especially. Back
wheat is not a very eXhausting crop.
because It's great amount OF broad
leaves absorb a larger portion ofth,
nouriShment contained III the air
Glover not only receives a large part
, of its growth from the air, but is
long roots strike deep into the soil
and brings mp nourishment, whcl
: some other crops would not derive
5 any. and the vegetation thus obtain
, ed, if turned under at the proper
time, will greatly enrich the soil.
Charles Rogers had seen al cx
pertinent tried on four acres Of white
sandy land in New Jersey that did
not produce anything. The owneI
. narrowed in coat OF lime with oats
a and clover seed, and raised fai
!, crop of cats. After cutting the oat
Il the stubblc and clover were plowe,
= in ard wheat and clover sOwed frol
G which large crop was raised. Th
II wheat stubblc and clover were pillow
- ed in again and the next year a goo
crop of corn was raised. The Jerse
IL farmers say if they can get a Glove
turf they are all right for farming.
|. j. McDuilec thinks il a waste t
- cultivate so much land as many &c
- Told n story OF two men who owne
" 40 acres, and after few years diyi(
l. ed that, giving "a acres to each. |
y few years each one raised as niue
3. as both formerly did.
- W. II. NOurse thinks a great vast
is suffered in the manner in Whic
u our barns are built, as by tina
S means nearly all the urine is los
:. which if saved and absorbed ia saw
dust or loan, would be nearly,
not quite, as valuable as the soil
poTti IONS. Another waste too It'll
81 thought Of is, in suffering weeds [
<. grow among our hocd crops, Whic
- often exhaust the soil as much n
= the crops, and return nothing bu
al foul seeds iol another year; no wee
If should ever be allowed torlpcn. A
-. 50 another loss is incurred in lettin
= our hay stand too long. In Ties
IL day 5 OF moving machines and hor.
#. rahcS, no farmer is eXcuSable for !c
-. ting his hay stand until ripe Il
nj cutting il carly the second crop ge
Il good start and makes a covers,
TO project the roots from the score
ing heat of the sun. If farmers "
look about them, they will be asto
vi ished at the loss they yearly sultc
as II. Il. Aldrich agrees with NJ
&c. Nourse in regard to the loss by WAS
tc Of the liquid portions Of manure.
- But one of the greatest wastes is
letting tools be- exposed to the wcat
or. Has often seen horse. rak
III sticking mp in the snow all Mlnt,
re and also plows, carts and Wagon
Ii. such sights are sure signs Of a vast
he lul farmer. We should also {,
IT. dress our grass lands more. II
~. raised one ton Of hay from 4 nc
MS for several years by applying I,
- dressing of sawdust used under 4
lst horses.
~ A lromn iLiuLa fnrmnrn Ia q,