Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1875-12-31
Westminster Farmers. Club.
Dec. Doth,

Subject-How shall we improve the
farm and the farmers purse
J. w. CLAy.-The subject presented
for discussion is one of interest TO every
tiller Of the soil, and one that should
have called out some more experienced
person than myself to lead in its devel-
opment. Every enterprising farmer de-
sires to improve his farm, and not only
these but many less ambitious desire to
enlarge their purse. Probably no think
ing persons expect that any new theory
can be advanced that will exactly apply
to his particular farm. Every man must
study his own circumstances. Some men
may do well in stock farming; others
would do better in grain-growing. In
the West where land is abundant, it pays
to farm when man can make $40 or Sl2
per acre, but in New England it cannot
be cultivated cheap enough to make it
pay for mans time at such rates, con-
sequently grain cannot be raised here
with profit. To make any money farm
ing in New England we must engage in
something that will improve the farm
Stock raising is probably the best means
to that end To make stock raising pay
we must commence with small profits,
and stick to it. Few men ever get rich
farming, by constantly changing their
plan of business. The stock raiser has
the advantage of the grain grower in
that he takes very little from his farm
and consequently is continually improv-
ing it, | never knew man to engage
in stock raising for great length of
time, but what improved his farm, and
in time made himself rich AS to the
policy of stock raising there seems to be
great diversity of opinion. Many
think it will not pay to buy grain to feed
to stock, yet experience has shown that
those who have purchased large quanti-
ties have usually prospered. 1t has also
been very conclusively shown that grades
pay better than thoroughbreds. Expert
ence has shown that the grass crop is our
most profitable crop. The aim of every
farmer should be to raise as good stock
and as much of it as he can. To do this
requires the best kind of cultivation and
the closest attention to business. Those
who are willing to do this, improve not
only their farms, but their purses.
NJ. w. DAvIs.-The question is too
large 1t is too general The subject
has been talked to death 1t seems to
me that the first and most important
thing is to thoroughly pulverize the soil.
believe that most of us fail in thor
oughly performing that part Of our work.
We have learned this from the raising
of tobacco This is one of the rays that
converge toward the grand center. The
next thing is to make grass king We
should labor to raise great amount OF
hay and to do that we must prepare
the soil for it. Raise as little of any
thing else as possible. Some men sue.
coed by one kind of culture and his near
est neighbor by another. Most of us
cut our hay too late. Stock does the
best on young grass. Having secured
our grass crop we should consider what
kind of stock we should keep to return
the greatest profit. l believe sheep is
the best kind of stock that many of our
Westminster farmers can keep; and |
deplore the day that they ever left our
meadows. We should feed that kind Of
stock that pays. am of the opinion
that not one eighth of the stock fed in
town pays for the food and labor expend-
ed upon them. The next thing is to find
a market for our grain and stock. To
do this, | believe we should make a home
market-we must build up our villages.
We used to talk about rotation of crops.
and think it would be well for most of
us to 90 back to that method now. Our
seasons are not long enough to make
grain growing profitable. We should
let everything go from the farm on legs.
GEO. M. CHASE am lost in ATTEMPT
ing to discuss so large a question as this.
The subject of farming is the most diff
cult to manage successfully of any with
which ! am acquainted. ! do not think
there is any occupation in the world SO
well calculated to develop all the differ
ent faculties of man as the farm. He
must learn everything about it by per-
sonal experience. To improve the farm
and the purse we should make the fer
tilizing heap as large as we can. Feed
the farm, and the purse will soon feed to
any reasonable mans satisfaction. Don't
purchase all the patent right machines
introduced into the market. Economy
is the road to wealth, and every farmer
to be successful must practice it. | be-
lieve every farmer should protect his
game. Every man ought to hold the
only right to fish and hunt on his own
| possessions
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