Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1873-01-10
Correspondence,
For the VERMONT FARMER.
FARM CHATS, NO. 10.


six inches of snow on the ground. Nov. Odd
and Oath warm and pleasant, and the snow
disappeared fast, and some weather-wise
people predicted that it would all go, and
that we should have more warm weather and
an Indian summer. From the oath to the
Doth, weather very changeablc with south
winds the most of the time. On the 29th
snow fell to the depth of a foot From Nov.
Doth to date Dec 26th) snow has fallen eve-
ry day except nine The month has not been
very cold excepting four days. Dec. 18th
and 18th the mercury dropped to Zero and
the 25th 10e below. 26th 81 below a. six
A. NJ, and did not get up to zero at any
time during the day A driving northeast
snow storm set in at ten A. NJ. and still
continues at nine p. NJ. think there is at
least two feet of snow on level.
Falls Work
Came to a stand still with great many
farmers, and not few have had to make
cider since winter began A good many
apples were not housed, lots of cider not
made, corn not husked, and barns not ready
for stock. Nov. Doth there was a rush to
get the stock out of the pastures and lots
and get them under the shingles. Stock Of
all kinds came to the barns in grand condi-
tion, aud as there is plenty Of hay and fodder,
with proper care, there is no need Of having
lot of skeletons to turn out next spring
Made great growth of fodder, cared well,
rpened early and well (no soft corn this
year) and on the whole yielded more BUSH
els per acre than the average of seasons. |
think | never before saw SO many two, three
and even four cared stalks. Although the
corn crop was good, nearly all the fodder is
Of quality far below the average in past
years very black and dirty. Many farmers
call it half spoiled, and just so l thought
until began to feed it to the stock. After
feeding it once day for the past three
weeks am Of the opinion that although
some of the goodness OF the fodder is lost, it
is worth more than half price yet. Stock
take hold of it with avidity, and relish it
well, even after good meal Of nee hay.
Neighbor II. has fed his stock wholly on
corn fodder since they came to the barn, and
they are doing well. 1t looks like poor,
dirty mess of stuff, but it proves otherwise in
feeding.
Made great growth Of straw and appeared
to fill well, but there was so much wet
weather at oat harvest that many lots were
almost ruined, aud in some instances wholly
so as an oat crop. The lots Of really prime
oats aud straw were very scarce in this vi
cipty
Potatoes
Did not yield as well as for the past few
years; the quality is poor generally and Q
great many have rotted. Some pieces were
badly eaten by the white grub and wire
worms. At digging time the sold low, from
10 to 80 cents per bushe, but since thor
have advanced to - aud Sj and by. mex
spring think they will be worth enough
per bushe to make them pay as well al
though the crop had been larger.
Apple.
Were very plenty and Of first rate quality
think there were less wormy apples thar
we usually get. No | lots sold for abou
Sl.Gj per barrel Poorer lots from sl.2'
to sl.5O. Most of the apples about here wer
shipped, some north, and some to Boston ant
other large markets. This is the jubilee yea
for apples and cider, and much Of the latte
was late made, just what most people cal
best, but 1 must differ. | claim that whel
apples arc ripe and mellow, Just right, the
is when they make the best cider. Lat
made cider may keep sweet the longest
but that does not make it the best cider
The peach crop was very good, and beside
peach trees have made good growth tn
past season.
Pumpkins and squRshes
DID not make much show on the ground tn
past season, consequently did not take muc
labor to harvest what few specimens thor
were. Too much bugs for the squash fami
this year. Second CROP or rowcn, was MAJ
nifcent before it was cut, but after cuttin
nearly all was badly damaged, and man
tons wholly lost for anything more than bee
ding or manure.
With the mercury in the tube at ~ b.
low zero, a rousing northeast wind and sno
storm driving into every crack and crevic
the frost on the windows 50 thick one cannC
sec out, finish this letter by wishing yc
all Of the FARMER Merry Christmas and
Happy New Year.