Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1873-03-28
FRIDAY MORNING.


FRIDAY MORNING.
The morning session was opened by the
reading Of Hon. A. b. Halbert's paper on
Hiqt,cavs which we shall soon present to
our readers.
Mr.. q. G. Pierce, of East Clarendon, said
he thought small stones might be used Tor
the sub-structure Of a roadway.
Mr.. Halbert replied that stones were
troublesome on account Of heaving to the sur
face. Perhaps if covered with brush before
the dirt is put on they would do well.
Mr.. Douglass said it was very easy to
build durable road through a muck swamp,
by simply making heavy bitches each side,
throwing the muck to the center, leveIing'
and then covering the roadway with six or
eight Inches of gravel These regis are very
durable. the "give" or elasticity OF the
swamp beneath having the effect to preserve
the road aud prevent ruts They require
very little repairs.
Mr.. Sumner, Of Brandon, gave very anus
ing portraits Of the efficient land unpopular
and the inefficient land popular highway
surveyor.
Mr.. Douglass spoke of the necessity when
a town changes from the district surveyor to
the town commissioner plan Of road making,
of giving the latter system sufficient time for
fair trial. One or two years is not enough.
Mr., Jameson, of Irasburgh, then addressed
the meeting upon Grasses and Forage Plants.
| In the discussion which followed Mr.. Doug
lass urged the Importance Of seeding with a
greater variety of grass seeds tnan is COM
monty used. He had considerably increased
the yield of grass on his farm by attending
to this point. Orchard grass must be cut
early, or it makes very poor hay. When SC
cut it ia extremely valuable, and gives two
or three heavy cuts in a season. The june
grass, which is identical with the famous
Kentucky blue grass be once thought OF lit
tie value, bat was now satisfied that it is one
of our best pasture grasses. Fowl meade"
is one OF the best, if not the best, OF grasses
for moist meadows. 1t does not often dc
well on high ground
Mr.. Pierce believed in redtop for moist
lands. He probably sowed more than any
other man in his town. Redtop seed is sole
by the bag, containing four bushels, eigh
pounds to the bushel,
Mr.. Douglass thought that fowl meadow
grass was as valuable to feed to sheep, Of
any stock, as any other, and superior to red
top. They are very much alike, but the red
top is coarsest Both make very heavy hay
deceptive in weight to those who are accus
toned to other grasses. Mr. d. was Of thu
opinion that we should guard against over
seeding, though few farmers are guilty o
this.
Mr. Skies, of Dorset, said that the quaint
ty of grass seed needed depended upon tn
condition and character of the land. Spok
highly OF the benefit derived from top dress
ing in the spring.
Mr.. Sumner, of Brandon said fowl mead
ow will not continue on high land over on
season. On moister land it lasts longer, bu
flooding often destroys it for season or two
though it will return again. 1t makes first
class hay.
The depth to which grass seed should b
covered was discussed, aud it was agreed tina
more seed must be sown where it is harrowe
! 10. When the seed is pushed in, catch
surer if the bush is followed by the roller,