Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1871-04-07

in future much larger appropriation for the
use Of the Board must be made The money
that has been paid from this county alone, that
| fear has been nearly thrown away, would have
enabled the Board to alalyze these compounds
and given the results to every farmer in the
State. The trouble has been heretofore that we
wanted something to enrich our farms, and we
had no Board Of Agriculture to apply to for as
sstance, and 50 we have 9 gone it blind
/. Another means Of restoring lost fertili-
ty is the ploxing under Of green crops, and
the use of lime and plaster for top dressing
In the South cotton is called king, in the west
wheat aud corn are king, but in Vermont
grass, If it IS not king, is the foundation of all
good farming The grass crops exceed all
other crops combined. Most Of our soil can be
rendered fertile by blowing under what can be
grown upon it for very few years. Clover.
buckwheat AMI other green crops will rsniIIv
restore the fertility Of our poorest soil. lie
should adopt the Eoglish custom that the pro-
ducts OF the soil should go to market on foot and
not in wagon" Implying that we feed out in
stead Of selling cur grain crops. No Vermont
farmer should sell pound Of hay or bushel Of
grain until his las, acre Of tiliage land is brouyht
up to its highest state Of cultivation. We bear
a great deal said about sending our money west
for corn to feed our stock. | an not alarmed
at this at all. Every carload Of western corn
that is brought into Vermont and iuliciously
fed, is just bringing 80 much Of the rich prairie
and adding it 10 our exhausted soil. The farmer
that can get the price of his grain in the increased
value Of the animals 10 which it is fed will be
making money, for the addition to his manure
heaps Will more than pay for the expense Of
feeding.
Last but not leas, the planting Of forest
trees for adornment and for enrching the soil.
Science tells that just in proportion to the de-
structlon OF our forests doour rivers and streams
dry up, dr5uth ensue and vegetation fail
Springs that yesrs ago were never known to fail
s-e now very often Try in summer and nearly 50
in winter. Let US encourage the growth Of
forest trees. lie. the young Or middle aged
farmer set apart ten acres II his least valuable
pasture land to the growing Of wood Let no
stock run upon It for "A few years. Let him
spend few leisure days each spring in planting
trees upon 1t, and he vii. leave better inherit
ance 10 his family than q thousand dollar policy
IN any life insurance company in the United
states. Few persons are aware Of the rapiity
with which wood grows in this state. There are
a few acres Of high land about one mile from this
village, almos. in sight from those western win
dows, that six,y-fJur years ago grew god crop
Of corn, planted among the logs, Indian fashion
The o~ner dying. il WAS left 20 itself Il grew
up again to wood. Il las been twice thinnel
ont, much good wool being taken from IL. and
now has lJp sugar trees 10 the acre that hsve
been used as such for SIX & eight wears That
maple grove is admired b. an who see it. and
12JO per acre would no doubt be refused By the
owner to day. This accidental growth Of forest
only shows what might be accom- plisbei by iu-
dicious system ct forest culture. One wo Tor
frt.a F.r O.