Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1871-01-11

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better say the thermometer was ashamed of
me. One reason for this state of things is,
the changes here are so sudden we are never
prepared for them. One day it is as warm
as summer and the next it is as cold as
Greenland. There are no forests here to
exert regulating influence TO modify these
extremes, or blend them into each other. 1t
may possibly be that Kansas climate has not
that bracing, invigorating element in it that
the climate of New England has, which en-
ables one to withstand the cold but | judge
the main reason to be found in these pitiless
winds. OF course am anxious to say every
thing in favor of Kansas that reasonably
can, but the truth is, we have more wind
here, all the year round, than is agreea BILE.
In the summer it blows hot ; in the winter it
blows cold Tonight it would be almost
struggle for life to face this keen, cutting
north wind. If it is stormy or squally IN
the least, horses can hardly be made to face
these " northers" But if a mans work is
in his timber and he can once get where the
trees break the wind, the weather seems to
moderate at once, the climate changes, the
cold is shorn of it's sting, and he has no fur
Their trouble. Back on the prairie again
where he wind, unobstructed from the north
pole, takes him, many a poor fellow has
found it difficult to find home. Texas travel
ers tell us these northers are as severe there
as here, and even more sudden in their ap
proach Ii is common remark among them
that when a man starts out for his work, if
any distance from his house, or starts off on
a journey, he ought to take with him an
umbrella, fan and an Oyercoat, for he never
kEssws which viii be the most conducive to
his comfort before he returns. However we
often have but one, seldom more than two, of
these northers during the year. and they
only last two or three days, so we ought not
= to grumble.
Perhaps it isn't too late to say " ord
about the crops here, the past season. The
weather and the crops you know, are a
farmers principal topics. Kansas has nearly
outgrown her bad name for drouths. The
past season was dry enough, but from all
accounts we suffered far less than in some of
the other States. There was time in May
when timiG men began to fear that 1860
would be repeated The ground was unuGu-
E ally dry, and oats sown in February were
beginning to head out three or four inch es
from the ground. But good soaking rain
the 3Oth of May saved our small grain crop
: and changed the aspect of the vegetable
Q world very materially. Emigration, which
r had been pouring into Kansas all winter, re-
n ceived sudden check in May in fact, just
I before the rain came there was regular
e back-set Emigrants changed their course
= and turned back cur>ing everything behind
them. Some swore they would shoot th'
first editor or newspaper correspondent that
= had ever blowed for Kansas that they shoulC
come across. But the most of those who
r. went back made sorry shift. They found
{ it dryer in their original home than here.
e There were not many fields of oats too fal
, along but that this rain helped them. NJ,
u oats except some very late sown and lat
e oats never DO well here) yielded about thirt.
Is bushels 10 the acre. They are worth now
n forty cents bushel Corn was not so gool
d this year as last, say about one third less
but wheat was a great deal better. Potatoe
, a, so did well. and 30 did sorghum-which j
IS sort Of staple crop with Us Westerners
n We had no chintz bugs nor grasshopPeTs t
u u ae4.pI"'" Of. Potato bugs have neve
u troubled us here.
Farming is undergoing = change. W
, are Just beginning u learn the capabiIitie
= Of our soil, and our own capabilities as well
FIVE years ago but few tried to raise oats
? II was thought they were not reliabl
crop; now everybody raises them. Il is III
surest grain we can raise. A man can rais
an average crop of oats and not half try
So with potatoes But few were raised hy
years ago, when first came here, and thos
were of an inferior quality Some kinds @
potatoes won't grow here, but since tn
introduction of new varieties we raise po
tatoes in abundance The peachblow jus
now is the popular iavorite. 1t will yiel
- we'll, let the season be what il will. and thei
" quality is most excellent. Mine yielde
- about hundred bushels to the acre. Yo
can beat this in Vermont but let me tel
: you how cheaply it was done. After m
planting and sowing was done in the spring
| had chunk of ground Of about an acr
how to turn il to the best account bu
having about five bushels Of the peachblo'
i. potato, concluded to cut them very lin
and make the five bushels seed the piece
. Work was pressing | told my hired ma
TO strike out straight furrow, and l fol
lowed him, dropping the potatoes behind tn
pillow to be covered the next bout. | droppe
the seed into every fourth furrow, putin
- one piece in II place, and about two fee
apart, unless | found ! was getting behind
i in which case would put them three or fou
!, feet apart, just it happened In less tina
"A a day we had the piece planted. After the
- were up John worked them out once with
:. shovel pillow, and that was all the attentio
~ they got till digging time-if may excer
going in among them with hoe and cuttin
= out here and there a big weed that have
particular spite against. In digging, IN
o. men lost their count, but judge the yiel
-, els to the acre. l would most respectful
n beg leave to add that do notd all my farm
no ing in this slovenly fashion. This was a
II exceptional case, and that is my excuse fo
r. mentioning it. 1t shows how Kansas so
n will stand being abused. Though the yiel
: was small, the potatoes were not by an
!, means. There were few in HILL but thos
, few were bouucers. | sold some for fit
cents bushel and some for sixty-ive.
Times tolerably lively now. Buildin
ha b,,Si ,Oc nd !