Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1874-11-13
Reported for tho vermont FARMER.
WHEAT AND CORN.


and corn enough for their own use ~ is a
question that the Patrons discussed in tho
Orleans County council at East Charleston,
Oct. 81.
d. j.. Morse, of West Charleston, said I:
In raising corn | have had very good luck.
Two years ago planted three-fourths Of an
acre Of l2.rowed Canada corn that was as
good piece as ever saw. The soil must
be suitable and we'll prepared, and then with
a favorable season good crop is quite cer-
tain. Every farmer can raise it If his land
is suitable. l never raised any wheat, aud,
judging from my neighbors' success, think
| can raise potatoes and buy -four more
pro6tably.
l.. Grow, of Bloomington, thought the
question comprised too much for discussion
at one meeting, as either crop was very i'm
portant. He had raised from one to four
acres of wheat each year, aud the yield has
been from 10 to % bushels per acre. He
believed it possible to raise enough corn and
wheat for our needs but if VIC do so we neg
lect many other things and it is not there.
fore expedient. The acre Of land that will
yield % bushels Of wheat will yield 10 OF
oats, aud the oats are n surer crop and can
be sold for enough to buy as much -four as
can be got from the wheat.
Amos Cook, of Glover, mentioned that
about nine years ago his success in raising
wheat was so poor that he abandoned its
culture. He got only thirteen bushels per
acre. About five years ago seed was
brought from the West to Glover, and he
sowcd some and harvested 80 bushels per
acre, and since that has had from % to
3j bushels per acre-an increase Of about
30 bushels.
u. Il. Jameson was called upoE and re-
marked that in degree the productions Of u
country and its domestic animals are indi-
Gated by its climate. Lapland has the REIN
deer, the desert the camel, the warm regions
of the earth delicious fruits aud special crops
like sugar, rice and cotton, and here in Ver-
mont the climate limits our products, yet
the success of many citizens shows plainly
that wheat and corn can be successfully rails
gu. ut iHNJduCtS VI 1iO'us
might be increased. Thomas Baker, Of Bar
ton, who sows FIVE acres each year, has this
year about his average crop--30 bushels per
acre. Mr. Cooks yield is above the average
OF the best wheat sections Of our country,
and if the farmers choose to try they can
raise all the wheat needed in their families
| have been told of men in the country on
hard farms who never buy -four. In regard
to corn, the amount purchased is enormous
and now the price is 30 per cent higher than
it was few months ago, with poor prospect
of any great reduction this year. Ii every
farmer in the county would plan how to
raise little more corn next year than evel
before, it would be proved that we could
provide our own corn. Corn is tender
plant and requires a warm, rich soil. Or
part of my own farm the frost kills unsea
sonsably most every fall and spring, yet OF
land few feet higher corn is success.
believe it is expcdent to raise our own corn,
whether Western corn is high or low, as il
is easier to take the time to raise corn than
to raise the dollars to buy it.
Homer Bradley was called for. lie be.
lieved the farmers prospered best who raised
nearly everything they need. One Of hi
neighbors has never bought barrel of flour
aud the father of this neighbor could say tht
same. On some land wheat cannot be raiseC
proftably, aud some land is not adapted t
corn raising. He mentioned some expert
ments. An acre of Warner wheat yielded
32t bushels, and was the premium crop ii
the county that year. BY the side Of the
wheat he had half an acre Of the Kingsbury
corn that yielded at the rate of 100 bushels
of shelled corn per acre. On another one.
half acre close by this on dark, low soil, he
drew on the manure in the winter aud in the
spring plowed it in with a one-horsc plow
and harvested IL bushels of wheat.
John Gilillen was called upon to speak il
regard to salt as a fertilizer for wheat. ii
stated that he sowed about 81 bushels o
salt per acre on his wheat land about a weel
before he sowed his wheat, so 1t was all dis
solved aud mixed with the soil before tn
wheat was sown. He believes the appllca
tion of salt destroys weeds, makes the straw
stand sitter, and also improves the berry o
kernel 80 that the -four is whittier, dryer, AM
better. The -four from spring wheat
equal to that from white wheat. With hi
management he got this year 22l bushel
from one-half acre, and feels confident tina
it would have been % if it had not lodgeC
in spots.
Thomas Dollolf was asked if he had trie'
wheat after turnips. lie had not but haC
tried salt and thought it injured the whea
crop.
Ed. Grow spoke of the cost Of raisn
wheat. He once worked three days gettinI
stones from two acres OF land that wou
only produce about 500 pounds Of hay, the
plowed it, and sowed four bushels Of wheat
he raised 33 bushels Of nice wheat that cos
him 81 % per bushel, calling his work tw
dollars day, and his team aud boy drive
the same. He had tried corn on his lam
that was not at all sandy and from one-haI
acre had 33A bushels of corn, 3 bushels
beans, 600 pumpkins, 80 squsshes, and tw
baskets Of pop corn. His experience teache
him that we can raise corn aud wheat enougl
Tor our own use If we will only go to wor
and try earnestly to do it.
The discussion seemed to prove that larg
crops Of both wheat and corn are by d
means uncommon, and that little eifoI
might greatly increase the product of tn
county,
The next question to bo discussed at Yves
Charleston, the third Saturday in November
is as follows: " Does the extensive raisn
Of potatoes for the starch factory or for sal
lnjure the farming lands of town ?" Worth
Master Hinman appointed to commence tn
discussion u. y, Jameson, Homer Brad
ley, Samuel Lord, Myron Buck, and A. j
Lang, At the next meeting collection {
short articles called paper may be expeote
from the ladies.
II z, Il. jameson, Secretary.