Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1872-11-08
THE FARM AND FARMING OF CUR
IT'S WHEELER OF FAIRFAX.
by L. II. T0wLB.

Fairfax aud vicinity we were much indebt-
cd to Mr.. Wheeler, for his kindness in going
around among his enterprising neighbors, and
good fund of information from which many
interesting facts were derived. Mr.Wheeler
is an euterprising farmer, fully alive to the
Importance of his occupation and deeply in-
terested therein.
His idea is not to see how much money
can, by any possibility, be taken from his
farm in the present, with little or no regard
for the future but knowing that continued
success depends upon well defined and ex-
ecuted plan for progress and improvement,
particular reference is had to this idea, aud,
we were not surprised, therefore, to find the
leading agricultural journals upon his table,
improved implements in his barns, abundant
crops in the fields, or safely housed.
Mr.. Wheeler commenced, himself, on his
present farm some twelve years ago 1t is
located six miles east of the depot in Georgia,
and contains 80 acres besides pasture Of 30
acres. 1t is composed of soil peculiar to
that vicinity, a strong dry loan, and is a
dapted to the growth Of grass and grain
crops.
At the first this place was capable Of sus-
tanning only ten cows and Il team; row IL
cows, one pair OF oxen, three horses, IL sheep
and II head Of young cattle are kept, besides
pasturing some stock for others in summer
Perhaps some may ask how he has been able
to make such an improvement. We answer,
it is in great part by making large quanti-
ty of manure, applying it literally to the
land, working it thoroughly into the soil, and
by good cultivation.
He stables his cows nights for the most
part of the season, aud his horses, @e think
are kept up the year round. Sawdust is
freely used for bedding, and this keeps the
animals clean, absorbs the liquid portion of
the manure and makes it much more agreea-
bic to handle. The larger part of this ma
uure is kept under shelter until wanted in the
field, and is thoroughly worked over. The
sawdust is found to decay quite readily aud
proves Of much service in the manner used.
Last year Mr. Wheeler made 100 two
horse loads of manure from his stock, from
July II to Nov. l, by keeping up nights.
He usually puts 40 loads upon an acre,
on the surface, and harrows in deeply.
Practices turning under green sward, ma
nuring and seeding directly to grass, with an
oat crop. Sows lG quarts Of timothy and
lbs. Of clover to the acre.
l. careful to lay down the land to grass
in good condition, and thereafter gets large
crops of hay. His meadows average l-2
tons to the acre. We saw one piece from
which this quantity had been taken, and there
was, it was Judged, ] IL tons ofsecond crop
standing on the ground. Stock is not allow
ed to run on the meadow at any time of the
year, and large part of this second crop is
allowed to rot on the ground. Will moi
farmers get an idea from this?
To keep up the flow of milk when the
grass gets short g, dry in the pastures, soil
ing corn is raised and freely fed twice day
This involves good deal of labor, but il
gives good results as we found at milking
time.
Raises roots somewhat, principally Lanet
sugar beets Uses, in common with abou
fifty other farmers in Fairfax, long, mar
row and deep pan for setting milk. Find
it saves one-half the labor in taking care o
the milk. When not set in a vat of water
puts tin bucket containing ice into the paI
to cool the milk, This style of pan is liket
very much.
Sells butter directly to a commission hous,
in Boston, and realizes an advance Of sever
al cents pound over that obtained at home
Here is another idea for farmers. MIR
Wheeler has few Ayrshires, in number
His COW "Gpsey" will be hard to beat. Sh
took the "sweepstake prizo" over all COWS, .
Whatever breed, and also the first premium
in the class of Ayrshires at the State Fair
His yearing bull also took the first premi
um. Besides these he has another COW 0
much promise, and two calves, we believe
That the COW "Gipsey" is good for milk an,
butter, may be inferred from the following
In June, 1871, she made Ia pounds of but
ter week for two weeks, on grass alone
This year she has averaged AZ lbs Of milk
day through the best of the season.
We have u statement before us of the dai
/ ly products Of milk and the amount of but
ter made from one weeks trial, ending Jun
10, 1872:
Smallest amount of milk in day, 40 lbi
Greatest amount, 80 lbs
, Total for the week, 1886 lb:
Average per day. 81, nearly
Amount of butter made, l5l lbs
! Pounds of milk for one of butter Ell
, We have also the result of another e1
pertinent, Of one week, ending SeptembC
I 4th, 1872;
( Smallest amount Of milk in day, 90 lb
Greatest amount. 33 lb
Total for the week, 2l9 lbi
D Average per day. 81 O.
, Amount of butter made, l2 lbs 10 OF
Pounds Of milk for one Of butter, ls
This is a good result without extra fee
Und we are glad Mr.. Wheeler has taken ii
trouble to conduct the experiments, as the