The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1872-02-06

ed wheat Now New England cannot
produce food enough for her dense popu-
lation. England produces more, and
more when her old systems failed, she
learned how to adopt and encourage new
ones, but more how to manure. and man.
ure rich by oil cake, and other rich feed.
Also drained and raised root crops, and
added to her skill every way. At first
despising book, farming, but by practis-
ing it, becoming the best farmers in the
world. We must have the same iutclli-
gent information to make farming pay in
New England. Main strength is insuffic-
lent, we must "root hog or die" Rails
ing young stock is exhausting to soils,
they taking away the best elements from
the soil, they buying young cattle and
fatcniug better we must learn how to
raise cheap food for stock. We must
learn higher branches of doing farming,
as there is great and increasing demand
for first class articles, and the demand
for second class is decreasing We must
breed more bloodcd stock, but this re-
quires knowledge; there is money in it
for those who will fit themselves for it.
Grass growing is becoming a great and
increasing interest. Truck farming in
many places is becoming very satisfac-
tory. Fruit growing can be prosecuted
with profit what we want is more pluck,
more energy, more knowledge. We need
not give up entirely grain growing, but
it must be driven to its best to be profit
able. The time is past never to return,
when poor farming can be profitable.
AT the close Of this paper, Mr.. Jami-
son of 1rasburgh, Prof. Collier, Hon.
Henry Lane, and others endorsed and
recommended the Vermont Farmer, and
commended it to the support of the
farmers Of Vermont, in which rccommen.
daticn we heartily concur.
A very interesting discussion followed,
in which Mr.. Stafford of Hartford, Mr.
Wait Of Georgia, and others participated.
Mr.. Stafford read an extract from one
of the monthly reports OF the Department
of Agriculture Of farm management in
England, and the vast amounts invested
in drainage, steam blowing, manuring
and labor, on lands rented, not owned
Such investments must pay or they can
not be repeated from year to year. This
system had brought up the yield ofwheat
from twenty-four to thirty-two bushels,t to
torty-scven to ffty-eight bushels. One
tenant farmer on 100 acres, employs five
men and five boys regularly, and occa-
sionally five extra men, and six to eight
girls, from thirteen to sixteen years Of
age. Mr.. Stafford said we must have
more and better crops. We must not be
satisfied with the present yield of wheat
in this he sustained DR.. Hoskins. Dr.
Hoskins was again called up by Gov.
Stewart, who in reply to some questions,
gave an interesting account of how he re-
claimed a field where he now lives 10
Newport, that was run down so it produc-
ed only eighty bushels of potatoes to the
acre, but by the application OF ashes, and
little superphosphate in the hill, pro-
duced $50 bushels. The field was now
in grass, aud producing heavily with the
use Of plaster once. DR.. Hoskins said
that our farmers had been like the sons OF
rich men, drawing from the Savings Bank
and Aad pretty nearly used up the old
mans money They had reduced the yield
of wheat to nineteen bushels per acre in
Vermont, at the west in only five years
they had reduced the yield from twenty
five down to twelve bushels, using up the
old man pretty quick If our sons have
the right stuff in them, they will get
living by their own efforts, and replenish
the treasury from which they have drawn,
and improve the farms we have exhaust
ed, and that were once rich.
Henry Hall Esq, of Rutland next read
a paper on the history of Agriculture
and manufactures in Verm ont.
Mr.. Hall traced the history of
farming in Vermont, and the great dis
advantages the first settlers met in supply
ing their own wants, and getting their
own produce to market, with the case and
facility with which transportation is effect
ed now. Salt was brought from Connec-
ticut and cost $40 per bushcl. A gen.
GRAFTON ago it cost 5 cts. per pound to get
our cheese to market now only II cent
while the cost Of transportation is so
materially diminished, the cost of travel
remains about the same. The great tenn
perance movement a good many years
back swept off many of the finest orchards
in the state Tho value of apples as
food for stock was then not understood.
In 1871 the wheat surplus was 10000
bushels, now car loads upon car loads, are
brought into our state from tho west,
only 1-3 of the wheat is now raised here,
and Vermont pays the west 100000
for wheat, is it for the interest of Yer.
mont to send this away. OF all material
interests in Agriculture the grass crop
is first but our meadows have deteriorat.
ed in quantity and quality, the sweetness
is gone and the brake, white daisy, and
snake grass have made fearful inroads.
A few years ago Black Hawk Horses
and Merino sheep were in their glory
and brought fabulous prices. Sheep have
decreased one million in twenty years,
and if the glory of both has waned the
dairy interest has waxed correspond
ingly' Potatoes once SO insignificant a
crop now exported by tens of thousands
of bushels, but We import from the west
100000 bushels of corn.
The condition of Vermont as manu-.
featuring state was then discussed, and
statistics given Of the amount ofproducts
manufactured in the state from 80 to so
years ago and the decline of the mapu-
featuring interests in that time, showing
the large number of founderies and nail
factories in the state, there were SO
wooden factories making three million
yards of cloth per year only generation
ago. Seventy years ago there were seven.
ty thousand spinning wheels, then Yer.
mont manufactured all her boots and
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