Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1872-01-12
Westminster Farmers' Ulub.

Met at Seminary Hall to discuss the
following resolution. Reso(ped, That the
present system of educating farmers
families is not the most commendable.
And voted to postpone its discussion I'M
til this Friday evening. to meet at the
residence of N. G. Pierce, where all, la
dies and gentleman are invited. Then
proceeded to discuss one of the new de-
partures' in farming of f. G. Lawrence
of Epping, N. H., viz. "The greater
attention in the raising of grass, using
the pillow more and hoe less"
N, G. PrERcE-Mr President, l have
become almost convinced ta.adopt the
system or course of Mr.. Lawrence, in
regard to hay, by using the pillow, and
applying phosphate. Some think this
fertilizer is lest in a few weeks when first
applied, OF the first year certain. But
know experimentally, that it enhances
the crop very much for three years, per
feclly apparent in the grass following the
corn and oats. My corn aud clover was
doubled. | get two dollars for every one
expended. | consider hay the most i'm
portant crop, while labor is so high, and
machinery 50 accessible. Sir, haying is
considered no JOB at all amung us, at
the present time, with the use of the
mower, iedder and horse rake. Mr. Law
renee advocates the practice of blowing
in August and seeding Gust after hay
| iug), ! think the fall no time to sow clio
yer seed, never loose catch in the spring
if | used our own clover seed, foreign
seed often fails As rule, we lack con-
fiience in the experience of others and
are slow to adopt aud experiment upon
their practice. Gov. Jennison of this
State, once said / have learned not To
disregard the judgement of any man, for
said he, ''once, / was seated near shoar
or prop, that supported building, and
and a humble looking citizen came 10
me and said, think you had better
move, for | think | can see the staging
yield to the pressure | needed it not /;
again the man came to me with the same
advice, and | moved, aud it was but
moment before those massive walls fell
and piled themselves upon the very spot
and | should have been killed had | re-
manned" | think if we would dispense
with some of our Injuries and attend to
the improving Of our hay crop, saving
much of our hired help. our farms would
improve, and farming would pay now,
without raising tobacco upon these mead
ows, but suppose some will raise it to
crafty their pride.
j. B. MORSE. The new "departure"
of blowing in August and seeding by
the use of fertilizers to improve our hay
crop, as advocated by Mr.. Lawrence, is
worthy of consideration. Now one of
the great drawbacks in our farming is
dininutior in our hay crop, caused BY
our failure in seeding down lands, and
some new departure must be adopted in
this time of high prices for labor, and
low prices for grain. We are trying the
system of seeding in the fall early, have
three acres of oat stubbe seeded after
oats we're taken Of, and 1t looked fine this
fall. Cannot say with Mr. Lawrence as
to the benefit of phosphate upon grass;
but used it upon corn, Bradley's XII,
and his patent, and it doubled the crop
nearly; saw no difference in the two
/ kinds.
! GEO. METcALF. The idea of turning
over the sward and seeding down early
in fall or last of summer, is one thai
meets my mind very favorably, for it is
said in turning over one acre of sward.
land we turn under twelve tons of vege
table matter to decompose and enrich
the land.
LEMUEL SPAULDINo. / never used
phosphate upon grass, have never seeded
down in the fall bat have used pbos.
plate upon corn and it worked well.
PREsIDEnT. | seeded in the fall
piece, fearing it might be too wet to work
to work in spring, and next year cut two
heavy crops Of grass sowing herds
grass in fall and clover seed in SPRING
this year sowed again on another piece
late, and had not come up at winter.
Sec.
Westminster, Jan. s, 1872.
= Straw shows how the current runs