Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1874-01-16

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narrated a successful experiment. Also in
regard to muck, had found il valuable, COM
posted with manure. Mr.. o. said that
there were cases where it would pay to sell
of hay and. buy artificial fertilizers. He
also spoke Of keeping manure in barn cell
lars, and thought it could be kept there
without injury to any animal or thing above
if it was kept wet enough to prevent fer
mentation. A liquid manure cistern in the
cellar, furnished with pump to throw the
liquid on the manure, is good thing for
this purpose.
Prof. Collier said the same thing was
practiced in Germany with compost heaps
out of doors. The Professor narrated 4 case
Of the very successful use Of superphOsphate
on corn.
Mr.. w. II. Dean, Of Charlotte, asked
whether It was best in drawing out manure
in winter to spread it, leave it in large piles,
or IN large heaps. Various replies were
made the substance of which was that in our
climate, especially on sloping fields, it ought
not to be spread on snow, or left in small
heaps. On level field, with little or no
snow, it may be spread.
In reply to question Prof. Collier gave
some account Of the theory of summer fal.
lowing, after which the meeting adjourned
until 81 o'clock.
TUESDAY EVENING
The evening meeting was opened by the
reading Of paper prepared by
Henry Miles, Esq,
Of Monkton, upon the Kaolin deposit at
Monkton. Mr.. Miles being prevented from
attending by ill-health, the paper was read
by G. G. Pringle, Esq, Of Charlotte. This
was an able and interesting paper, both geo.
logically and practically. The Kaolin de.
pOsits of Vermont are among the most valu-
able of her mineral resources.
The above named paper was followed by
an essay by
II. w. Higbee, Esq, of Charlotte,
entitled A Glance at the Times" which
was a searching and scathing review Of the
present condition, financial, social and politi-
cal, of our nation, showing how the industri-
al classes, and especially the farmers, have
been made to suffer in the wild hunt for
wealth by speculators and politicians.
James c. Kennedy, Esq.,
of Troy, then presented paper upon For.
ests, the necessity of their protection and
extension" This paper is carefully writ
ten and comprehensive statement of the inn
mense waste of wood in this country, and
the disastrous couseq uences sure to result,
unless this waste is arrested. In discussing
the subject
Mr.. }. Quinlan expressed the opinion that
in cutting wood it is better to cut clear, and
then leave the land to grow up to a new
growth rather than to attempt to thin.
Mr.. Douglas alluded to the drying up of
springs in consequence Of the clearing of land,
and thought it worthy of consideration.
Mr.. M. IL. HOrsford thought there was no
need Of planting forests in Vermont.
Mr.. Ezra Horsford spoke in favor of al
lowing rocky pastures grow up to wood, and
instanced number of cases where it had
paid good percentage on the value of the
land in increased value.
Prof. Seeley, of Middlebury, spoke of the
general effect of the clearing of country. 1t
is necessary that arabic lands should be
cleared in order that agriculture can exist.
This obstruction must go on until it reaches
the limit when it ceases to pay, then it will
cease to exceed the natural growth. Brick,
stone and iron will take the place of wood
fer many uses, and so the call for wood will
adapt itself to the supply. There are many
compensations accompanying the deforesting
of the country. Yet the forests should re-
ceive our care and young wood allowed to
grow on otherwise Improbable land
Mr.. Jameson spoke Of the carly custom Of
clearing upon the hills because the valleys
were too wet and frosty. But now, because
of these early clearings and succeeding de-
forestations, the lowlands have become dryer
and warmer, and are now our best lands,
though worthless until the forests were re.
moved, and air and sun admitted. The
changes in regard to productiveness of land
attributed to the removal of forests he thought
mainly due to careless, unthrifty tillage.
Prof. Collier said he thought there had
been no appreciable diminution of rainfall.
The destruction of trees had not reduced the
amount of rain that falls. But the removal
OF forests nevertheless makes the air and soil
dryer, and thus causes drouth, because the
rains run off almost as soon as they fall in
stead OF soaking into the ground. He spoke
also of the effect of forests growing upon
mountains, in arresting clouds and producing
local rains, ofno great Importance to tho
aggregate, yet often very important to the
crops OF the locality.
Mr.. Chapman referred to a case where
large exteut of woodland had been protected,
and carefully culled, but this wood had not
improved, and had no young growth.
Mr.. M. II. HOrsiord said young growth
would always come up if the cattle are kept
out. He then spoke of the value of wood.
lands as wind breaks. He said also that it
is not the farmers but the spectators that
are destroying the forests.
Mr. @. G. Pringle spoke of the destructive
action of insects upon forest trees, and said
that many maple groves in the Champlain
valley have been destroyed by boring insects.