Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1875-11-03

A. w. Cheever, Esq, the energetic and
able editor of the Men Engiand Farmer, has
recently been visiting our state, and giving
descriptions Of number Of our best farms
His latest article upon the subject is a no
tice Of the farm Of +, ID. Douglas, Whiting
Messrs. n. p. Eaton s. Co;-After two
days visit with the family of Mr. +. b.
Douglas was taken in charge by Mr.. Fran
els ID. Douglas, who took me in n carriage
to his large stock and dairy farm, in the
town of Whiting, This gentleman has the
largest and best farm | have seen in the
state. 1t lies on the west bank of Otter
Creek, along whose course it stretches for
more than n mile.
The farm contains in all about three hum
bred and seyenty-fye acres, only twenty-five
of which is permanent woodland. One hun
bred and seyenty-five acres are overlooked
every winter by the waters of the creek and
no manure is applied or needed on this land,
as it is fertilized from the sediment left by
the water to such degree that it produces
heavy crops of fowl-meadow grass every year,
with little regard TO the character of the sea-
son as TO drought or wet This creek land
can all be moved by a machine, and as it is
principally in fowl-meadow grass, il may be
safely left till the upland hay is all secured.
OF the higher land, every rod may be cul-
tivated A considerable portion, however, is
used as a pasture for the mich cows, but the
quality of the land in pasture and moving is
precisely alike, and find that, in this county,
pasture land is valued about as high as NOW
ing or tillage land, and | should judge that
the fields were frequently changed from one
to the other by many Of the best farmers
Mr.. Douglas keeps several men constantly
employed, and raises large crops of Indian
corn and the smaller grains. Two large
stacks of unthreshed straw are supposed 10
contain about six hundred bushels Of oats
and other grain, a portion of which may be
sold, but most of it will be fed out on the
farm. The principal income of the farm is
from the sale of choice butter from a herd OF
about thirty cows.
The Shorthorn blood seems TO predomi-
nate in the larger number Of his cows, al
| though saw some Ayrshire marks in few,
and within the past two years the Jerseys
have been introduced as an experiment.
From present appearances, the experiment is
to be a successful one, and if it should prove
so Mr.. Douglas will gradually change his
whole stock to Jerseys and Jersey grades
On butter farms this breed is rapidly gaining
favor, even up in "cold Vermont" Mr.
Douglas system of butter making has been
described in previous numbers of the Farmer
in reports Of public lectures in various por-
tons of New England.
lie uses deep pals set in ice water, in the
summer, and has had uniformly good sue
cess, his butter having gained a high reputa-
ton among a large list Of consumers in sew
eral states south and west. BY making a
good and uniform article, he has been ena-
bled to obtain full twenty-five per cent.
above the quoted prices for tub butter,
lie feeds his sour milk to calves, which
he raises to the condition of cowhood and
TO Berkshire and Chester White pigs, of
which he raises aud fats a considerable mum
Der every year His Berkshire pigs fatted
quickly and sold at ten months old, have
some years brought fancy price for the
fancy retail trade at Boston market Last
fall he sold all his best ones at ten cents per
pound, live weight, which was about what
ordinary dressed hogs sold for at that time,
llorse-breeding is not q speciality on this
farm, but few colts are raised every year
from seryiceable working mares of good
stock. The colts and other young stock
wore feeding in sight, at one end of the
creek meadow, but it was more than a miles
walk from the buildings, and did not have
time 10 exaime them.
Mr. Douglas farm is composed of the
same kind of sticky clay | have found all
through Addison county, but he doesn't
have his boots covered with it every time he
crosses his cow-yards. At considerable OK
pense, he has covered his walks about the
house and garden, aud all his catte-yards,
with good coat of excellent gravel, and
now he can walk over the yards or sit and
milk his COWS without violating his sense of
taste and neatness. Nowhere in Vermont
have seen neatness more thoroughly prac-
ticed in the cattle-yards than here
But | find the same custom of having
many small barns prevailing here, as else
where Mr. d. has ten barns filed with
hay TO the last forkfu aud would need
another to cover the stacks of grain. These
barns are hitched together in pairs aud in
.trlos, some of them being fully quarter of a
mile distant from the farm residence There
may be advantages about this method of ar
ranging farm buildings, but | have never
learned what they are, except in case of fire,
or when the main buildings are badly located
as regards drinking water for the stock.
MIR. Douglas, like thousands of other New
England boys, commenced life with only his
willing hands, and he has used them thus
far 10 good advantage, During the summer
season, he applies himself closely to his
farm, but the numerous calls for public work
during the winter season takes him from
home considerable portion of the time.
Were he possessed Of less public spirit, he
might have shoyn still more rapid progress
pecuniarily, but the community would have
lost more than he would have gained for,
while dollar boarded makes one man
richer, a valuable idea promulgated may
add 10 the wealth or comfort OF thousands.