Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1873-08-08
FIRM OF GOI'RRvOR SMITH.

Mr.. Towle, agricultural editor Of the ST.
Adams Transcript, has recently visited the
farm of Gov. Smith, and TO his report we
are indebted for the following particulars
of the estate. 1t contains about one thou
sand ac' es, besides tract of marsh land,
and is situated on what is called st. Adams
Point. We have often alluded to the Cham
plain valley as one of the richest agricul-
tural sections of New England, particular
ly for the production of grass. The soil is
heavy, but productive. The Governors
farm is composed of clay, clay loan, muck
and perhaps occasionaly gravel loan. The
yield of the hay crop is from 800 10 900 tons
annually. This year 1875 acres are under
the plough, fifIy-five of which are in oats
and two or three in mongolds, which were
looking finely. 1t is intended to raise grain
only for the use of the farm, making hay
the principal crop, of which a portion will
be sold. To assist in keeping up the fer
tility of the meadows, the deposit of muck
referred to, will be used freely. To show
its value as top dressing for grass lands,
when used alone on clay soil, it was stated
that a quantity was dug last winter and put
in heaps on the field, and in spring, as
soon rs the frost was out spread evenly and
brushed down fine The result was a crop
of grass so heavy and lodged that it could
only he mown one way, with machine.
From this experiment it is safely conclud-
ed that muck will he Il valuable fertilizer
for the clay lands; and such is its proxim
ity to the fields where wanted, ana with
the almost unlimited supply, there would
seem to be no need Of inferior grass crops
in favorable seasons.
A brick barn, 100 by $50 feet has been
erected, but not finished. The central part
is four stories high, including the base
ment; and the whole is divided into three
parts by partition walls of brick. In the
central part of the first floorabo the b1Se-
ment is the carriage room, 50x7O feet
Large weighing sea cs will be inserted in
the floor. In one corner will he an office,
and room for steam power, with which 10
cnt and grind the feed for horses and cat
tie. Running up from this floor to the
fourth story, which will he devoted TO the
storage of threshed grain, will be an c,e-
vator, while in an opposite corner will H."
feed room.
The two rooms north and south Of the
one described, on this floor, are each 40x
100 feet one for cattle and the other for
horses and cattle. There will be a row of
stalls on each side with wide passage way
between, and doors at each end, allowing
OF the passage of teams through the cow
| stable. A shallow trench behind the cattle
| stalls will hold the water and absorbents,
| which, with the solid excrements, will be
| precipitated into the manure cellar below.
The third floor contains three lofts for
| hay, estimated TO be sufficient to contain
| 2S5 tons.
| The basement contains three rooms, con =
nected by large doors, allowing of the free
passage of teams to all parts. Here will be
conveniences for storing roots, muck, etc.,
| as we'll as manure.
Mr.. Towle also says that tank for water,
sixteen feet in diameter, will extend from
this basement TO the root, and be filed with
water from the Bay, by wind power. The
pressure of column of water of that height
4 must necessiate a tank of immense
strength. A tank on each floor may be in
| tended.
There are five houses for the laborcrs OH
the farm, iu addition to that of the super
| intendent, where the entire force is fed and
| part lodged. There are also several old
barns at different parts of the estate.