Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1871-03-10

Beyond this meadow the upland
stretches away to the South, West and
North, including portions of severaltown-
ships, and affords an extensive view of a
good farming section. From Mount
Moses we looked on cluster or rather
huddle of mountain peaks, where but few
farms and but few habitations Of men
could be seen; from this summit the
view embraces succession of farms and
villages, hills and valleys, which diversi-
fly a very extensive prospect of rolling
land.
THF CRATER OF AN OLD VOLCANO.
The top stones of this mountain are
rather singular. Here are large quanti-
ties of rough sharp conglomerate OF
pudding stone. which is worked into the
granite in acurious manner, filling up the
" footsteps" Of somebody who walked
over the granite when it was soft, and in
places the conglomerate and granite are
welded together as neatly as ever steel
and iron we're. We don't know what
geologists may say of our discoveries but
we found the crater of the volcano which
worked all these wonders, in addition to
heaving up the mountain itself; found
where the melted rock, running down its
sides, left layers over stones, which we
peeled off like the lamina of an onion
and we found many other curious things,
which those who wish to see must climb
as we did to this summit This will prob
ably give you as good an appetite as we
had for the dinner which awaited US, but
if you get as good one as Mrs. Sherwin
gave us, you will be lucky.
AMEADow FARM
Descending to the valley, and calling
at the residence of James M. Stearns,
we complete the circuit of our shalt
dozen farmers"
Mr.. S. is one of the fifteen lucky far
mers who own each slice of this rich
meadow, over which Little Ascutney
stands sentinel. From its summit we
had looked down upon the liliputian
forms of himself, son and team while at
work on sandy knoll of some two acres
at the foot of the mountain, that was
probably heaped up by some water-spou
that rushed down its side. This knoll
has been kept under the plough for many
years, --one half being planted to pota-
toes, lightly manured in the hill with rot
ten manure and some ashes, the other
half with winter rye; these crops being
alternated yearly--the rye being sown as
soon as the potatoes are dug. This field
is sort of balance wheel to the mead
ow, which in wet season does not al
ways produce good potatoes.
Mr.. Stearns owns pretty good slice
of this meadow and we believe cultivates
no other land, though he has hill pastu-
rage, orcharding, &c. A considerable
part of the meadow is annually over
flowed by the little stream which passes
though it, and so enriched by the sedi,
ment of the water that it does not need
plonghing Hence he is able to manure
highly the portion that he does cultivate
From about twenty-five acres that he
mows, he estimates his crop at forty to
forty-five tons of hay annually. After
seeding down the second crop is usually
better than the FIST
In reply to our inquiries, Mr.. Stearns
said that the meadow had been steadily
increasing in productiveness since his
| first acquaintance with it and that it was
still improving, but not at the expense
of the upland, as more was carried from
the meadow than was brought on to it.
Mr.. Stearns' house, like several others
in this neighborhood, is made of the
stratified granite or gneiss, OF which we
have elsewhere spoken, laid up edgewise
by the mason without hewing. 1t forms
wall that presents rich and comfort
able appearance.
These six families commenced lie
about as near the bottom of the ladder
as is often the case with new beginners,
and their average age is something less
than sixty. Farming has been nearly
the sole business of all of them. They
have probably aided friends to an
amount exceeding that of inheritance
from their parents They all own good
farms. and taken together, the balance of
Indebtedness we suppose to be in their
favor. In no case have all their child
rem abandoned the old homesteads, but
in several of them new circle is al
ready gathering around the old fireside.
Lest the foregoing should be suspected
of being the fancy sketch of book
farming editor" we have given names
and residences, perhaps in violation Of
the strict rules of social propriety =
though we see no good reason for delica-
cy in respect to these individuals which