Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1869-02-16


for field of corn. Though we often
hear the remark that New Hampshire
| is poor corn-growing state, the evil
dence is readily found upon the prem
Uses of nearly every thrifty farmer,
that with the right management the
reverse is true. Some localities, to
be sure, may not be adapted to Its
growth, but there are but few farms
within our knowledge upon which the
corn-crop may not be made remuner
alive.
Now, in view of the fact that mil
ton of dollars, at least, are sent an
nuaIly LOT the state to buy corn,
we submit the question whether 1t
would not be better to invest this
large amount of money at home, In a
more extensive cultivation of the crop. |
and raise our own corn. Ii such a
plan could be adopted, all our valleys
and hills might be made to blossom
as the rose" In few years every
foot of arabic land in the state would
become like garden.
That corn may be raised here to
advantage may be readily seen from
crops raised in this county last sea
son. One of the largest was that
raised by Col. D. NJ. CIough, Of Can
terbury, consisting of twenty acres.
and producing nearly 1000 bushels of
good sound ripe ears. Who will con
tend for a moment that the crop did
not pay, yielding to its owner as, as
it did, not less than $500?
Col. Clough, no doubt, can tell how
much it cost him to raise that crop,
and we venture the opinion that his
figures would not cover half its value.
Now with what other crop could he
have made as much money? Don't it
pay him to raise corn? Why may it
not pay others just as we'll?
We know that the objection to an
extensive cultivation of the crop Is
urged, that our soil has become eX-
hausted from long cropping, We
might add, bad management, lnasmuch
as its owners have ignored the law Of
compensation, and have neglected to
return to their fields anything like an
equivalent for the elements that have
been extracted from them by the crops
they have grown,-and that corn can
not be raised without a large outlay
for fertilizing materials. There Is
force in the argument; but We meet
it by saying that those materials may
be readily obtsined. and the question
of cost should be no objection so long
as the outlay is more than compensa
: ted for by the increased value Of the
: crop.
In another column will be found a
statement of Col. Clough upon this
very question He SAYS he used -
perphosphate Of Lime, (BradIey's) in
the hill, as he has done for five or six
years, " and is fully convinced that the
: crop more than doubly pays the cost"
This is what Col. ClOugh SAYS, and no
one will doubt his reliability. But
: he is not alone in his testimony. as
! will be seen by referring to the state
ments of other gentlemen equally re-
liable. We have, ourselves. demon
strated the same fact.
Here, then, is one of the agents
that may be made use Of to increase
: the corn crop. And we are glad to
! know that its use is being more com
mon-not less than 500 tons having
been used by New Hampshire farmers
last season.
. But something else must be done to
!. increase the corn crop in New Hamp-
= shire. The land must be prepared
|. by better blowing and a more thor
E ough pulverization OF the soil, careful
O and seasonable planting Of the best
o known varieties, and frequent and
+ thorough after cultivation-all which
+ will cost time and money; but as sure
as seed time and harvest shall come
9 of which we have ample promise
q just so sure will the farmers. who
n make use of the means at hand, get a
o good return for their labor. and will
q not, like Jacob of old, be obliged tc
send their sons down to Egypt to buy
corn.-IHe People.
7, GALL THE FAT GOES INTO THE Pail
e This truth cannot be too often repeat
s ed. A COW that is a good mike,
IS should be fed literally, not only Will,
e she is giving milk, but while she i,
y dry. All the fat she accumulates be
<, fore she calves will find its way tc
l. the pail during the summer There
k is no period at which a COW lays on
f fat so rapidly as before she cak es
IS provided she has food enough. 1t is
IS wise provision of nature. And vet
d many farmers feed nothing but straw
l. and cOrnStalks at this period. Be
e cause the COW is not giving milk they
+ think it will not pay to supply more
r food than is necessary to sustain life
e Frequently the poor cows are moi
y even provided with shelter from the
- otnrnn And it is mystery how the,
e manage TO digest straw eno,oh 70
f keep up their animal heat. No won
It der that many of them have to be
n lifted in the spring. There is moth
d ing that pay so well as good shelter
f and good feed for cows during winter
d whether they are giving milk or not
f. Every pound of fat stored up before
J. calving will, if the COW is a gooc
e mixer, find its way to the pail during
IS the summer. And pound of talloW
{ will make more than pound of but
r ter, because the former contains little
is or no water, while butter contains
o from l5 to 20 per cent.
~ TOP-DREssING OF LANDs.-It is &
f disputed point, among writers in the
& agricultural papers, whether surface
= manuring of wheat lands is good OF
" otherwise. Some think the best re
Il suits follow from manuring at the
n time Of seeding; others would make
n the application after the seed is il