Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-02-19

formula is given by Mr.. Way in our cores
pondence on the first page. Prof. Collier en-
dorsed Mr.. Ways rs thoroughly practical
as we'll rs n scientifically correct manure.
In reply to query Prot Collier said salt
sometimes might be valuable rs direct fer
tilizer, and he explained that the principal
value of salt was its property of rendering
silica assimilable by plants.
DIR. IIoskns said Henry Reyes used TO
think salt rendered wheat straw stiff and less
liable 10 lodge, which coincidod with Prof.
Golfers idea that 1t rendered the silica solu-
BILE.
J. G. Hovey, OF St. Johnsbury, read pa
per on "What kind of Farming PaysP"
Geo. w. Cook, of st. Johnsbury, applied
hen manure and sand TO piece of corn and
raised 20 baskets of sound corn and baskets
of unsound corn in the ear, and the fodder
and pumpkins would pay for the labor. so
he believed he could afford to raise corn In
Vermont.
We have robbed our pastures and return
ed nothing until there is hardly an acre Of
good pasture in Vermont. Then there is a
great loss of liquid manure. lilo thought
there was beginning to be, however, Il bet
ter understanding of their business among
farmers.
lie advised to take portion of our best
land for pasture and to pillow and manure the
poor pasture land.
Prot. Collier, IN reply to a question, said
that soil has the property OF holding almost
all kinds of plant food, but excepted nitric
acid, so that he would not advise the appli-
cation Of nitrates except for immediate use.
Mr.. EMERSON recommended to house
cows nights littering them with absorbents
so as to save all the fertilizers. For the last
two years he had raised his corn, and he had
no crop that paid better. Uses the Kings
bury corn, and considers it very good kind
Believes II pays to use Wilson's and Brad
ley's superphosphates, though he had seen
that of these brands which was worthless.
He finds that 20 pounds of the Kingsbury
corn in the ear will make bushel of shelled
corn, as taken from the corn crib in the
winter.
j. p. Foster thought that though there
were some good corn farms, ms general rule
it is not a profitable farm crop here. lie be-
lieves in paying attention to adaptation.
Prof. Collier, in reply to a question, said in
the case of fre-Elng in u heap of horse ma
nure, in the majority of cases the outer layer
of manure probably held the volatile com
pounds thrown off by that portion of the in
terror which turns white. Tho portions
which had turned white he considered about
worthless. lie and DIR. Hoskins agreed
however, that manure that was fire-fanged
is the source of II great amount of loss.
+. V. Powers, OF Waterford, read paper
on Importance of System in Agriculture. y
Friday Morning.
The discussion of the fertilizer question
was continued. Judge Carpenter, of Water
ford, had experimental with corn, potatoes
&c. with commercial fertilizers. He is sat
isficd that in right conditions the use of CON-
mercial fertilizers was profitable. Under
other conditions he had sunk the money paid
for them. Had tried the use of guano, phos-
phate, &C., until instead of keeping two OF
three COWS and horse he keeps nine or ten
cows and horse Thought it was of little
use to use fertilizers unless we also use
brains.
A. II. Hovey, five years ago tore his barns
down and built new, and since then has
housed his manure, and thinks one load now
is worth two under the former system, when
it was exposed to the weather Houses his
COWS nights in the summer, using muck to
absorb the liquid, and thinks the product
worth double, load for load, the clear, solid
droppings.
Mr.. Way had top-drcssed piece OF dry
upland with stable manure, and considered
the manure thrown away.
Jonathan Lawrence thought the cause oil
failure was that the grass roots had been
partially killed out before the application.
Mr.. Fisher, of Cabot thought the best time
to top-dress was just after haying.
A. r. Hovey had been asked good many
times about the best time to top-dress. His
answer was, when you get ready. If, how
ever, there was any time better than anoth.
err, he thought it was in May and June.
Mr.. Smith, Of New Haven, covered about
three acres with manure last fall, intending
TO pillow and SOW it to barley, but did not get
around to plow it in the spring and it re-
manned in grass. He cut three times rs
much hay on that land as the year before.
The chairman, Mr.. EMERSON, agreed with
Mr.. Fisher that the best time to top-dress is
just after haying.
Mr.. Douglas was of the same opinion,
agreeing with Mr. X. that when manure is
applied late In the fall the ground often
freezes. and then If there is rain before the
ground thaws the manure is washed away.
Ifapplied in the spring we are liable to
have drouth that may cause the manure to
waste before 1t is washed into the soil.
Prof. Collier said an offer of five dollars
each would bring out farmers enough to fill
this hall, and IL every farmer here would 20
home and commence TO use muck to absorb
all the liquid, the meeting would have bene-
fitted them IS worth.
Mr.. Ballard, of Gaysville, thought sods
taken from fields where there is good
sward, are far better tn ian muck to absorb
the liquid. Uses them for bedding. Can raise
ten bushels of potatoes as cheaply as one
bushel of corn, Iby feeding the tuber with
potash and soda. We cultivate too much
land.
DIR. Hoskins protested against raising po-
tatoes to sell. They carry of the potash at
fearful rate.
Edward p. Allen. of st. Johnsbury Center,
read paper on GLOW to make Farming
Honorable and Pleasant"
Mr.. Harvey: The greatest need we have
is not to bring up other classes to an equal
honesty with farmers; we want to make
good article and put it honestly on the mar
ket. The reason the Fairbanks company
are so successful is they make a first class ar
ticle and put 1t on the market. One reason
why farming don't pay" is that the farmers
live beyond their means.
Mr.. Douglas; If we are not represented as
we should be in legislative bodies, it IS our
own fault. There is an interest working In