Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1869-11-30
House, Farm and Garden.
1. d. II. COLLINS, Editor.
Good Crops.

L. -. II. COLLlNS, Editor.
Good Crops.
Mr.. Moran Sawyer of Craftsbury. raised
the past season q bushels of nice wheat
from one bushel of seed. 1t was of the va
riety so long known in Vermont as the Tea
wheat, variety which was never celebrat-
ed for great productiveness, but always
classed as No. l for -four, among our spring
varieties. 1t was sown on lao rods of
ground or seven-eighths of an acre, thus
yielding about 81 bushels per acre. The
soil was strong loan, on a hill farm and
was planted to corn and potatoes last year.
When the wheat was sown it was seeded
to grass. We have heard and read of many
large crops Of wheat being harvested the
present season in Vermont and New Eng
land, some considerably larger than the
above; and Judging by what we have seen
and heard we conclude that the average
yield per acre in this vicinity must be at
least % bushels per acre and possibly Is.
This certainly is a remunerative crop even
at present prices, and taken in connection
with the fact that for the last few years the
wheat crop has been much surer in conse-
quence of being freer from the ravages of
insects, rust and blight, than for some years
previously, should induce farmers to SOW
this grain more generally than has been
the practice. 1t even seems practicable to
raise paying crops of wheat on lands form
erly considered worthless for this purpose
We have known several good pieces of
wheat raised on light rivor land, within
the last three or four years and the past
season we saw on the Connecticut, in the
town of Newbury, one of the finest pieces
of wheat we ever saw, the growth not only
being good, but the heads bending low
with the weight of grain in them. We
have been of the opinion for years that a
yield of even ten or twelve bushels of wheat
per acre upon land that is to be seeded to
grass, pays better than an average crop OF
oats. If the wheat itself is not of as much
value as the oat crop, the succeeding crops
of grass will more than balance the ac-
count in favor of the wheat, as every farm
er who has tried it knows that his grass
crops after wheat are very much heavier
than those following oats. We believe
that New England, and most certainly
Vermont is capable of proftably producing
her own bread, whereas she now sends
millions of dollars annually to the West
/ for her -four. Though we believe that q
crop of ten or twelve bushels to the acre
on an average gives as good returns as
most of other crops, we would not be salts
fed with that yield, for with proper man
agement we have no doubt Vermont farm
ers may bring the general average for ;
term Of years up to % or even 30 bushel
per acre. In England the average yiel(
has been more than doubled in the las
fifty years and it has been done by goo'
farming; more roots to feed stock, conse
quently more stock and more manure, bet
ter tillage and more intelligent manage
ment generally. Nj \. W Hoyt raised
very good crop of rye, although it was no
sown until near the last of May, and hi
neighbors prophesied that it would not ii
because it was sown so late. He sowe
one-half bushel Of seed and harvested -four
teen bushels of nice plump rye, which di
persist in filling Notwithstanding theproph
estes. In conversation with Mr.. VI. Whit
ney the other day, he informed Us that b
had raised this year at the rate of SIS bush
els of carrots to the acre, and considerin
the amount Of labor expended considere
them profitable crop. He considers ther
worth fifty cents per bushel to feed to stoc
at the present prices of hay and grain, thu
giving over $500 per acre as the value {
the crop. We have used our best endeay
ors for several years to induce farmers t
raise more roots to feed to stock, and al
glad to chronicle the fact that the cultur
Of roots is steadily on the increase in tn
: section, and that there probably was nevt
: before 50 many swedes (turnips) raised
f Craftsbury in any one year as this yea
: The Scotch farmers in the eastern part
the town, who by the way are in our hun
\ BILE opinion some of the best farmers j
; town have many of them raised rutabag;
as field crop for years, but in other par
of the town very few have been raised III
til within few years. This year we he;
, of many fine crops; among others, Mr.. {
: W. Seayer we understand has harveste
: near a thousand bushels from one and
quarter acres; E. L. Hastings two hundre
Y from one fifth Of an acre, and many othe
o about the same average. Two hundre
1 bushels of turnips will weigh about Il, 0(
/. pounds or six tons. Six tons from on
: fifth of an acre, or thirty tons per acr
; worth at least as much as eight tons of ha
/ and reckoned by many in the ratio of thr,
tons of "bagas" TO one of hay, thus NAL
= ing the product of one acre equal to tt
a, tons Of hay. Think this matter over du
ing the long winter that is before Us, viii
! your cattle are for more than half We
r deprived of the succulent food which
It their natural aliment, their health perha
d suffering from the constant confinement
II dry food, and see If you can't figure out
II | prOfit in raisinr roots for StOrt