Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1870-07-22
Farming in Franklin County.

the very borders Of the Canadian from
tier, this bears date at Bakersfield. The
farmers here make such large quantities
of butter and cheese, that market is
created at their very homes, though |
saw many carry their butter for delivery
to the nearest village. But the buyers
go about among the farmers and pur-
chase the butter or cheese in the cellar
or on the shelves. Here many carry to
st, Adams, hoping to get more, and
sometimes succeed, but as often fail, and
60 home perhaps wiser but not richer
men.
The farms are generally thoroughly
cultivated, | have seen those on which
there are hundreds of rods of blind
bitches laid. The bitches are usually
two and a half or three feet deep, and
laid with tiles or stone For sandy soil
tiles are the best, but for frmer stony
soil stoned drain is best, as it takes
up the water more readily and thorough
ly.
Many meadows, cold, wet and swami
Ply, growing only wild grasses-by drain
ing are made dry, and cut as good herds
grass as can be grown anywhere.
1t seems incredible to see the improve
ment which drainage effects; not only
increasing the quantity but the quality Of
the crops. Many of these drains are laid
in land which most persons would call
already dry, but they take away cold
waters from the soil which always hinder
and seldom or never aid the growth of
crops, especially grass.
Meadows over which you could not
formerly draw loaded cart without set
Ting the wheels into the earth several
inches, are made as firm and unyielding
as any need be. Theya are quite general
| ly particular to keep their fields, especial
! ly their meadows, clean from bushes and
weeds, growing out in the open lots, or
beside the walls and fences. 1t is re-
garded as proof of slovenliness in far
mer, if here and there in his meadows,
or in the corners of his fences briars, or
willows, or even apple trees are seen
growing. They are cut down every year
as they spring up, and it is an uncom-
mon thing to see large tree growing in
a good farmers meadow. Moreover,
these farmers spend all their time on
their farms; seldom do they go out with
their teams to work on this or that sob"
They put their spare time and strength
into digging bitches, building wall, dig
ging out stones, cleaning off the old
stumps, logs and bushes from their pas
lures. They always have enough to do
at home and hence Improvements are con-
stantly being made. Then they pillow
their fields often, as soon as meadows be-
gin to fail, they are plowed, kept up two
or three years, thoroughly MANFRED and
then stocked down
These farmers are farmers, they be-
lieve in farming, and show their faith by
their works. They know that farming
we'll conducted may be made very profit
able, and that farming in shabby half
way manner is justin way to be always
poor and in debt. And as, like most
men, they value money quite highly,
they endeavor to do things thoroughly,
knowing that nothing pays better for
being well treated than farm
If these men had the charge of some
farms which have seen in some parts
Of your county, they would increase their
value % per cent in few years by a
system of thorough cultivation. They
would make many rough places smooth,
many wet ones dry, and many almost
barren ones productive, and many bushy
unsightly fields and fence rows clean and
comely as garden. 1t requires brain
and muscles to make good farmer -
and these must be of good quality and
always in operation.
Franklin County farmers make that
their one great business, they keep good
teams to work on their farms, and not in
some ones lumber yard, or wood lot -
they hire good men to work on their
farms, instead of job5ing it first at this
and then at that piece of work.
| am not saying that every farm is in
high state of cultivation, AID that
every farmer is all that he might be. l
have spoken of the general predominant
features of farming in. this county which
is growing SO rapidly in wealth and ag
ricultural improvement.
have been greatly interested to see
how soon slovenly, careless farmer
catches the spirit of his more energetic,
enterprising neighbor. Enough also for
this time from
A FARMERS Boy.
The CHINESE MASSACRE Anthem
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