Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1869-10-05
Notes on Vermont.

Spending part of last week in North
ern Vermont, attending the agricultural
fairs of Orleans, Franklin and Lamoille
counties respectively, learned with pleas
ure that the Indian corn, which promised
so little in August, has been so signally
improved by the persistent warmth of Sep
TENDER that it will hardly fall below an av-
erage. The stalk is small and short, but
the ears are abundant, and will mainly at
tain maturity. No frost has yet been seen
in the state, save in a very few low and
cold valleys. The potatoe crop is bounte-
Gus and the quality excellent The Chill
seems to be the favorite variety, though
Early Rose and other new sorts are every
where grown, and no longer selling at 81
per pound. The potatoe is a Vermont
staple, and about the only vegetable food
that she grows for sale abroad. Wheat,
rye and Oats-all grown rather sparirgly-
have yielded well this year; wheat espec-
tally so. ! met farmers who assured me
that they had measured up forty bushels
per acre.
Nine-tenths of the soil not covered by
forest is in grass, including many long rid
ges and hillocks that ought to be reclad
with timber forthwith 1t is the curse of
grass farming that impels the farmer to
clear all his lands of wood; whereas much
of it is so steep, rocky, sterile, as to yield
little pasturage; whereas, if covered with
trees, it would radiate moisture and fertil-
ity to the better lands below. Vermont is
no worse than other states in this respect
but her intelligence should make her bet
ter.
The rivalry of Durham and Ayrshire
H.. G,,r II ooh,
class exhibits very winning specimens of
its favorite breed. | do not consider the
Durham well adapted to a state where feed
is 50 valuable as in Vermont, and where
milk is more regarded than meat; but men
far better informed on the subject judge
differently. A breed of Dutch cattle,
(black with streal1s of white) small as the
Ayrshire, but plumper, and seemingly
better calculated TO take flesh when no long
er valuable for milk seems growing in IA
vor. Wise saws are frequently uttered as
to the capacities of our native cattle, if
carefully bred for generations; as if the
more esteemed breeds had not been intro
duced on purpose to obviate the necessity
of waiting half century for such improve
mcnt to be made. No one doubts that
great things might be done with native
stock but these had already been done
with the Durham, Ayrshire, &C., and our
| breeders chose to realize the improvement
at once, instead of waiting fifty years to eff
feet it.
Butter and cheese were literally display
ed at the fairs, especially at that of the
Franklin county, which annually produces
more butter than any other of like popula-
ton in either hemisphere St. Adams is
a leading butter market, constantly throng-
ed with the buyers, mainly from Boston,
Lowell, etc. The quality of the better
varieties, not even Philadelphia can excel.
Excellent cheese, both factory and family
made, is exhibited; but most of Vermont
dairymen, having an enormous market at
hand, think they can do better with butter
Maple sugar, as white as loaf. and as fine
rs powdered Havana, is on hand at all the
fairs, with syrup that can nowhere be eX'
celled. Bread that Is bread, and not spoil
ed dough, adorns every Floral Hall, a,
fragrant as the flowers and even more de-
serving of attention-and premiums. It'll:
quite. possible that more money is made
somewhere else but no people live better
or welcome visitors to better fare, thar
those of Vermont The weather was ad
| ullIdUlt buIOuSuOuJ NY AulIlCu Nlolt, bhO
the first day lat Barton) was cloudy bu
rainless the two following lat Sheldon anC
Morrisville) were bright as midsumme
and warm as June.
| was glad to note that lOng-wooled o
mutton sheep are gaining decidedly on thu
Merinos to which. Vermont was formerl!
addicted Wool is low, though higher il
this country than anywhere else; while
. mutton brings cash and good prices. L
must be that the Cottswold, Leicester anC
kindred breeds, are destined soon to pre-
dominate Wool can be transported thou
sand miles for five per cent. of its value
while choice mutton is worth far more il
New England than in Texas or Minnesota
Breeders must govern themselves accor
dinghy.
So much is said of intemperance i'll state
| where liquor selling is outlawed, that
, have reason for adding that | saw no pei
son even partially intoxicated among tn
$4,000 lat least) whom | met at these Fair
and saw no bottle set out, no glass of lie
c uor drank, during my visit to the State.
a presume one in eager quest of liquor Nigh
have found it; but no one else was trout
led or tempted by 1t.
The slopes and wales Of the Green Mour
tains never bore a richer, thicker growt
of nourishing heritage than covers them t.
day. Heaven smile forever on the gene
Gus, high-souled people whom they subsis
!, and who honor so healthful and happy
" home H. &.