Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1873-10-29
English Prize Farming.

Ii is not from English farmers Sho mere.
y rent their farms that we hear the 60 u-
plant that their business is not profitable,
but from the owners Of American farms
yet these English farmers each year pny
large sums for rent and still larger sums
for permanent improvements upon the land.
from which they derive but q temporary
benefit At the same we own our lands.
aud in our estimate Of profit the interest
on their cost rarely enters into the calcua-
ton as a charge upon the receipts yet the
complaint is general that our farming does
not pay. Possibly there may be something
in our want Of good management and a
comparison with the methods followed by
some English farmers who have been COM
pettors for the prize Of $500 offered by
the English Royal Agricultural Society,
might help to point out the weak spot.
The farm which was awarded the prize was
one occupied by Mr. w G. Walgato. Of
400 acres, Of which 100 are in grass. hi.
rotation is one Of FIVE years viz: turnips
or other roots, spring grain wheat oats or
barley, clover, wheat aud oats, or peas aud
beans. The stock consists Of 100 heavy,
long-wool sheep or as many more as may
be needed to consume the roots o large
number Of pigs, many Of which are pur.
chased for iarening, and not reared upon
the farm; 40 bullocks for fattcnlng, 2
horses. The labor costs IS per acre All
the manure made goes to the root crops,
with 600 pounds Of bone dust and 400
pounds Of superphosphate per acre in adj
dtion The consumption Of oil cake and
other purchased feed is immense the hui.
locks eating 6 pounds a day while grazing
with I pounds Of meal per day added when
finally fed on turnips the manure is,
therefore, very rich. The wheat is sown
in drills 9 inches apart and s to 10 pecks
per acre Of seed is sown. This crop is
horsc-hoed, also hand-weeded. The clover
fields are sown with II pounds of white
and I pounds of red clover seed per acre
with a little Rib-grass marrow leayed plan
tain mixed This farm is said to have
been evidently under profitable manage.
ment, and on no other farm was there such
an excellent lot Of stock 10 the fields. Mr.
Walgate has been tenant of this farm for
% years, and has built the greater portion
Of the farm buildings himself One of the
other farms was admired for its neatness
both around the farm-steading and the fields.
The report says a more charming garden,
tidier fields, better roads, and more perfect
fences were never seen The other of the
three farms competing was managed in a
similar manner to the prize farm. but the
special object Of admiration was a wheat
field.
Now in comparing the condition and
management Of these farms with that Of
the general run of our farms, there are a
few leading points of difference Theyare
the root culture, liberal feeding of cattle
and production Of rich manure, cream cu.
tivation of even the wheat crop, heavy
manuring at the commencement of the ro-
tation, with two hoed crops in succession
beans (Which takes the place Of or corn
and turnips, and a clover crop, between the
two small grain crops The abundance oI
labor is rendered necessary by the system
of management. 1t is not necessary to
point out wherein we fall short in any res.
pect it speaks for itself There is moth
ing here impossible of achievement by any
American farmer. American Agricultu.
yi0