Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1873-04-16
Correspondence.


Ma. EprrOk.-I rroPo'e to on-r ny
experience aud close observation on prse-
teal farming thrOsgh your rsper. for the
bssehi Of young men in Vermont that
are engaged in that business
lst. Farming Is great pursuit. Farm
ing is the base OF all others; IL is pro-
gressire, aud man, 20 years agu, that
was called a good farmer aud bEs not
made the modern improvements, Is far in
the arrear. Hence we see, man TO be a
practical farmer. mus, apply himself, body
aud mind. To be a progressive farmer.
it is very necessary that he should love to
work and make improvements, and have
gsood order, reduce his farming to q
system that will save much purplexity
and xpense The great staple OF this
State. is beef. butter, cheese, Sheep wool
and good horses; therefore, we see the
necessity Of growing grass, and producinga
large hay crop. One Of the great secrets
of farming, is in making large quantity
of manure, and knowing the best way to
apply 1t to different soils. Every farm
er should double his amount of manure by
mixing muck or good earth in yards and
cellars, taking care to have tight yards to
prevent leakage. Farmers would do bet
ter not to cart any manuae out in the
Spring; but, in September. when farms
are wet and soft. A large portion of land
sn Vermont is better adapted to top-dress-
ing, than otherpise,
Farmers have been in the habit OF
plowing too much land meadow-land,
after being made moOth,-may be mown
from ten to twenty years. From ten to
twenty cart-loads of manure to the acre,
= once in three or four years, as the soil
may be making the best quality of hay.
One-hslf the manure applied to meadow
land in this way, will produce as mnch
grass in ten or twenty years, as twice the
amount plowed in, and at much less cx-
pens e. On cultivated land, the neares
the surface you put your monure, and
keep it covered the better. All eultivat-
cd lands should be stocked as soon as the
second crop is off. Flowing done in the
Spring, is the best for land and crops,
when a farmer has the time Land
should be stocked early in the Spring or
early in the FALL Ked-top and foul mead
A ow seed should bo sown on low meadows,
S aud gwails. All wild grass should be cut
0 the first of haying. All hay should be
q cut early, and is better for stock, and
better for ands. Close or late moving is
= very injurious, to the next crop. Mead
ows should not be fed much in the fall,
s and none in the spring. In this way,
meadow will endnre for term of years
d without plswing.
One acre of good corn is worth to ev-
o cry farmer, to feed corn and stocks. as
y much as six tons Of hay; therefore every
farmer should raise good crop of corn.
p Every farmer should make manure enough
f rom his hogs, to manure all his corn in
e the hill. A potato crop is hard crop
e for land, and yet produces much feed for
stock.
!" The true principle of farming, is to feed
-e out all the produce of the farm, to the
in stock; and yet to exchange oats for corn,
+ at the present prices for some stock might
be better.
All stock for practical farming. had
: better he crossed. The Durham cattle
'' excel all for beef. They can be i'm.
:, proved for oxen and cows by crossing
= them with the Deven this cross canno,
, be excelled for Vermont. For milk and
d butter, cross the Devon with Ayrshire This
40 cross cannot be excelled for milk and fancy
COWS. The Jersey cattle are small, coars
~ es made, tender cattle, giving superior
" milk but small in qautity. Cross the
70 Jersey with Durham for this will improve
- both. The Herford cattle are very nice
- to match for oxen, being red, white faced
- and large horns, cows second class fol
= milk. fhe Dutch cattle, black aud white
: coarse made, make good oxen for work,
= COWS second class.
The hest kind of sheep for farmers in
Vermont are the Cotsw old, Leicester o
n S hlcwneres crossed with heavy span
y, ish wool buak this cross wi produce kinG
le of sheep that will sheer from six to eigh,
Of pounds Of wool to the head if well kept, -
ut this cross also makes healthy productive
t. sheep for wool and lambs. All sheer
r should be sheltered from storms, from the
e, lst of Oetober to the last of May. Barns
4 and sheds being we'll ventilated. Oats anG
rye mixed Is the best grain feed, corn il
% too hearty and heating for sheep; potatoes
" turhips and carrots are best, aud red clio
~ yer hay cut early or herAs-gtass with
white clover is the best for their fodder
la