Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1873-03-07
THURSDAY AFTERNOON.

THURSDAY AFTERNOON.
Owing TO some delay in trains, the mem
bers Of tue Board did not reach the place Of
meeting until three o'clock p. m, at which
time the session was opened, d. O. Wright,
Esq. of Westminster, being chosen chairman.
A brief opening address was made by NJ. W.
Davis, Esq, President of the Westminster
Farmers Club Thy the way, one Of the most
wide-awake and efficient organizations Of its
class in New England,) in which a hearty |
welcome was extended to the Board, and to
the visitors from abroad.
The first paper, upon the subject of Fruit
GrOtcing, was read by
Sfr. james II. walker,
of Springfield. 1t was an essay Of unusual
excellence, and will appear in full in our
columns at an early date. This was followed
by lively discussion, in which Mr.. j. II.
Putnam, Secretary of the Grafton Farmers
Club successful fruit grower, aud an occa-
sional correspondent of the FARMER). Mr..
Douglass of Whiting, Mr.. Sumner, Of Bran
don, and several other gentlemen took part.
We are sorry to say that being somewhat
mixed up in this discussion ourself, we failed
to take notes Of it as fully as we should have
done. Among the topics brought up was the
value Of different varieties for sale and for
table use. For sale, the Baldwin was accord
ed the first place where it will succeed, then
the Rhode Island Greening, Yellow Bell
flower and Northern Spy. Mr. Walker pre-
sented some nice specimens Of fruit, including
Pumpkin and Munson Sweets. Rambo, Red
Canada and Hubbard's two Nonesueh. Mr..
Putnam said the Yellow Belhower did not
do well on tie hills but the valley farmers
all spoke well of it for quality and profit,
and we are indebted to the courteous chair
man Of the meeting, Mr. Wright, Of West
minister, for some rs large, handsome and
beautifully colored specimens Of this variety
Ia great favorite with us) as we have ever
seen, east or west.
Another question discussed at some length,
was that of blowing orchards. Cultivation
aud manuriug was insisted on by all speakers
Of experience, but some demurred to using
the pillow in an orchard, especially if it had
never, or rarely, been plowed. Where the
pillow is regularly used, no large roots are
Termed near the surface, aud consequently
little damage is done by blowing.
The best distance for trees in the orchard
was also alluded to, and the general feeling
seemed to be toward closer setting than here
tofore practced Some advocated very close
setting, Is by Is, and even nearer.
The best place for buying trees was dis
cussd, and New York trees came in for the
usual amount Of "cussing,' although one
gentleman, who claimed to have one Of the
best orchards in the valley ION the New
Hampshire side we believe) said it was COM
posed of New York trees and he had lost on
ly one out of hundred 1t was pretty gen.
orally agreed that the nearer trees are grown
to where they are to be permanently set the
better.
The " Crab-stOck question was alluded
to, but only to he laughed at as a catch-pen-
ny bumbug by all experienced men.
The comparative keeping qualities OF east
ern and western sppios was called up, but
the feeling wss that we can get but little
comfort there, as western apples seem to keep
quite as well as New England fruit,-some
thought better,--but others took what we
think the truer view, that well selected aud
carefully handled New England fruit viii
keep az well as any in the world.
This brought up the matter of hand-pick
ing, careful packing, and honest assortment
and it was agreed that Western growers naC
found out sooner than we had that care anC
probity in these matters were eminenty wise
and that manipulating off Of the ground /,
dc one phrased it, pouring from basket Il
barrel and mixing all qualities togethe
would never enable New England fruit t
take position in advance of Western. |
seemed however to be thought that with care
iul culture, apples are next to tobacco one o
the most pro6tablecrops. Connecticut Vale
farmers can raise
THURSDAY ENgNIN0.
Hon. Francis d. Douglass read his valu
able practical paper upon the Butter Dai'
and Butter Making.
In the course Of reading this paper Nj
u. remarked that he had been badly mis-
represented in some papers, and among othe
glaring errors, it was stated that he had sal
he kept FOUNDER to pound his salt for but
ter aud that the salt should not he touche
with the hands, What he did say was tbs
he used FOUNDER for packing the buttey
tubs, and that the butter should never
touched with the hands. He added that b
remarks had always been carefully aud col
rectly reported in the VERMONT FARHER.
Mr.. Sumner, of Brandon, endorsed ii
practcality of MIR. Douglass darying, bI
enquired how he made just a tub of BUTT
at q churniDg.
Mr., Douglass said his cream was unifor
III quality, and by taking certain measuI
Of cream he got an almost exactly unifor
yield of butter. He took enough cream Il
ehurning to make tub of butter, and
llttle over which was used in the famil
Had heretofore packed IN sixty pound tub
but was convinced it would pay better
pack in smaller tubs, 40 or even 25 pour
tubs 1t brings better price In reply
question, Mr.. d. said he had used caro-