Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1873-02-14

them uOWu us we neeueu tne WOOu anu Jlm-
ber The steriity of once fruitful regions
was not due alone to the destruction Of the
forests, but to that wasteful husbandry Of |
which tree destruction was only an example.
He doubted the effect of trees in increasing |
the average rainfall. Thought the return of
hill tops to forests desirable, but believed we
could do better than to plant arabic land
with trees. Swamps ought to be drained
and cleared, rather than left in forests. Was
much interested in the planting of fruit trees,
and thought every part of Vermont should
raise its own fruit.
DR.. Hoskins spoke of the increasing atteu-
tiou being given to this matter all over New
England, especially in the older settled parts.
He had recently heard that one farmer in
Windsor county would the coming spring set
out Que thousand maple trees on an old pas
ture.
Mr.. +. Slayton, of Wocott. spoke of the
Importance of pruning and caring for maple
groves, saying that they repaid culture aud
care as we'll as fruit trees. Thought differ
ent kinds, slow and fast growing species
should be grown together, and the fast grow
ing cut out as they attained useful size.
He thought more wood was lost by leaving
it to decay, than is usefuly consumed. Has
given some attention to fruit growing. Fruit
trees must be set on land adapted to their
growth. They require but little care, yet
that care they must have, or they will die.
Thought neglect and insects destroyed most
of the trees in Vermont, much more than
climate.
Mr.. Hill, o. Gilmore, spoke of the waste,
want of economy and good judgement shown
by farmers in cutting and slashing in the
woods. Said the waste and decay we're more
than the USE In getting their wood people
take the best and most thrifty trees instead
OF taking the old and decaying ones. There
is plenty of timber yet. but not to be wasted
With care the forests can be made an ever
lasting income, and the trees will grow as
fast as We need to use them. Thought ledgy
land should never be cleared, but swamp
lands are our wealth, and should all be clear
ed, drained aud put in grass.
Mr.. Griswold, of Hyde Park, wished to
express his thanks for the paper. Thought
necessity drove many farmers to devastate
their forests, and poverty prevented much
of the Improvement that farmers would glad
ly make.
, Prof Collier spoke of the apparent incon-
sistencies between theory and practice, and
remarked that everything really right in
5 theory always would work we'll in practice
Mr.. E. +. Allen, of Morrstown, spoke Of
the difficulty of knowing what soils were
adapted to particular varieties of fruit
Mr.. Bryant, of Morristown, made some
. inquiry as to the value of grating tender
sorts upon hardy stocks, and upon crab
stocks, requesting an answer from DR.. Hos
kins
: DR.. Hoskins spoke unfavorably of the at.
tempt to make orchard trees by grating up
on crab stocks Tender varieties might oc-
casionally be got to fruit by grating into old
trees of harder sorts.
Mr.. Jameson defended crab stocks.
Judge Jones wanted to know the cause OF
winter killing of apple trees. Thought ii
might be due to the ground not freezing and
the trees being too full of sap.
Mr.. Douglass thought warm sunny local..
ties for fruit trees unfavorable, as they in.
duced starting of sap at wrong times,
Mr.. Slayton wanted some experience il
, regard to crab apples was indisposed tc
plant more than q few
Mr.. Douglass spoke very strongly against
abandoning the common apple for the crab.
Mr.. W. S. Thorp had been planting crat
and common apples, and found the latter do
ing pretty well. Thought we were to APP
to be deceived by the fine pictures of tn,
- nursery agents, and that nursery trees wer,
too highly stimulated Thought many of tn,
g trees were killed by the bark splitting.
Mr.. Slayton found some difficulty in under
= standing this bark splitting
DR.. Hoskins had found it to happen wher
-, herd freeze occurred early in the fall.
: Mr.. Douglass and Mr.. Bryant, of Morris
A town, both thought winter killing due to owe
stimulation, causing over growth. Mr. Bry
: ant thought cutting back one half of the new
growth in August preventive.
The question as to the proper time 70
pruning was mooted. Mr.. Slayton got hi
best results from June pruning. DR.. Hos
kins pruned some in June. but preferre,
i March. Both agreed in disappearing of fal
" and late spring pruning.
Thursdsy Evening.
q The evening session was opened by tn
:. reading Of paper on " Vermont as a Farm
P ing State" by VIM. s, Thorp, Esq
1t Prof. Collier spoke of the responsibility
a which VermOnt's high position as an agricul
ID tural state imposed upon her farmers, mas
70 much as it is incumbent upon them to Sc
h that our little republic suffers no loss in he
lie relative position by any fault in the conduc
lie of the present generation. The rapid ad
vance of agriculture elsewhere imposes upo
!. us the necessity to labor strenuously to kee
i. our standing good. This improvement else
!. where makes it necessary also, in order I
IN retain our present rate of profit on our PROD
so ucts, that we labor to keep even with tn
of world in science as we'll as practice. Gu
it character, our pride, and our self interes
all unite IN demand that We labor IN nromot