Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1871-09-27

From the American Stock Journal.
Clean Farming.

Good land is worth money, and the better
it is improved the more money it is worth.
Proximity to q good market adds very much
to its value, by reason Of ready sales at good
prices; the producer sells directly to the con.
sumner, without sharing his profits with middle
men.
There should be nothing grown, or suffered
to grow on a farm that will not sell for money.
Weeds aud briars, therefore, should not be
suffered to grow, because there is no money
value in them. A crop of weeds, If suffered
to go to seed will exhaust the soil as much
as crop Of grass or grain then why no,
cultivate grass or grain instead Of weeds
grass and grain have a money value, weeds
have none
1t is amusing to hear farmer say that he
lets a field grow to weeds as a rotation crop
in the round Of farming-that weeds shade
the ground while it rests and can be plowed
under the next season for manure There
can be no objection to blowing green crops
under for manure, but the haulm Of deiunct
weeds will add very little to the fertility Of
the soil, compared with that which it took to
grow them Why not grow grass instead Of
weeds There are some sections Of the coun.
try where the English grasses as they are
called do not take well but there is one or
more grasses Indigenous to every section Of
the country. With very little trouble or ex.
pense, seed can be collected from these grasses
and cultivated so as to always have on hand
enough to seed down field which can be used
for pasture, if not for hay This pasture
will produce milk, beef or pork, out Of which
money can be made The droppngs Of stock
are left on the ground, and the sward, full of
roots, may be plowed under for another crop
to follow in the rotation.
Any system Of farming that will admit one
field liz may be one-ioruth) Of the farm to re-
main unproductve for one year is not good
one. Every acre Of arabic land on a farm,
if properly managed, will produce something
that can be converted into money. Here is
Just where the great secret Of good farming
lies. Talk of giving land rest Give it
plenty Of food and change Of occupation, and
it wants no rest. With system based on
these principles, it will grow stronger and bet
ter every year.
clean farming applies also to the crops
grown. If you grow wheat, let it be all wheat
not mixed with rye, cookie, or cheat. A
field with such a mixture is very unsightly,
and detracts very much from the character Of
the farmer. II shows carelessness in pre-.
pairing or selecting seed that admits of no ap.
ology. Clean culture is one Of the beauties
as well as profits Of farming. In fact every
operation Of farming that is conducive to prot.
it, looks well, is beautiful A plowed field
with each turf turned over, fitting nicely in .
the track Of the preceding one, as straight as
m arrow from one end to the other and head |
lands close up to the fence, looks beautiful.
a farmer without taste for the beautiful |
n all its operations and surroundings, is not |
likely to be the most successful in his occu-
patton. His horses, cattle, sheep, swine, poul-
ry-his fences, fields, crops, his buildings and
testify and bear witness,
either for, or against him. Here is an array
of Witnesses that he can neither bride nor
cover up they will testify to the truth. JUS
iice will pronounce the verdict, from which
there is no appeal.