Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1871-04-12

wears. Clover, buckwheat and other green
crops will rapidly restore the fertility of our
poorest soil We should adopt the English
custom that : the products of the soil should
20 to market on foot and not in wagon,
implying that we feed out instead OF selling
our grain crops. No Vermont farmer should
sell a pound of hay or bushel of grain until
his last acre of tillage land is brought up to
its highest state of cultivation. We hear a
great deal said about sending our money
west for corn to feed our stock. / am not
alarmed at this at all. Every carload OF
western corn that is brought into Vermont
and iudiciousy fed, is Just bringing so much
of the rich prairie and adding it to our ex-
hausted soil. The farmer that can get the
price Of his grain in the increased value Of
I the animals to which it Is fed will be making
money, for the addition TO his manure heaps
will more than pay for the expense Of feed
ing.
/ 5. Last but not least, the planting of forest
trees for adornment and for enriching the
soil Science tells that Just in proportion to
/ the destruction Of our forests do our rivers
and sire ans dry up, drouth ensue and vege-
tati0n fail. Springs that years ago were
/ never known to fail, are now very often dry
in summer and nearly so in winter. Let US
encourage the growth If forest trees. Let
the Young or middle aged farmer set apart
/ ten acres Of his least valuable pasture land
to the growing Of wood Let no stock run
upon it for few years. Let him spend a
few leisure days each spring in planting trees
upen it, and be will leave better inheritance
t. his family than a thousand dollar policy
10 any life insurance company In the United
states. Few persons are aware 0 the rapid
ity with which wood grows in this STATE.
/ There are a few acres OF high land about one
Z 10 la a DnAE in 10Th frpY
those western windows, that sixty-four years
ago grew good crop corn, planted am ing
/ the logs, Indian fashion. The owner dying,
it was lett to itself. 1t grew up again to
wood. II has been twice thinned out, much
good wood being taken from it, and now has
+ 40 sugar trees to the acre that have been
used as such for six to eight years. That
maple grove is admired by all who see it,
and 500 per acre would no doubt be refused
4 BY the owner to-day. This accidental growth
OF forest only shows what might be accom-
pllshed By ludicious system of forest culture
+ Que word about forest tres for adornment.
4 Who does not look with pleasure upon the
native trees that surround many Of our Yer
mont homes. And who does not regret the
want Of taste in those who having the means
neglect this cheap and simple adornment.
1 Look at the forest trees that surround many
IT the dwell ngs in this village, most Of then
/ having been planted within cOmparatively
short time. They furnish a shield from tht
/ bleak winds and a welcome shade from the
scorchng sun. Toe planting of forest tree'
tends to the enrching Of the soil by prevent
ing the washing by rains and melting SHOWS
and the yearly growth Of leaves furnishes al
ample dressing to the soil.
trust tina with what may be done nv tht
Board and other agencies, we may Inauguratc
system Of improvement Of the soil that viii
result IN doubling the farm products of the
State within the present decade. | trus
that the crude and disjonted hints that
have thrown out viii provoke discussion anC
criticism. If that is accomplished | shall be
| satisfied