The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-01-04
Dairying IN vermont.

BY J.. n. ARNOLD.
Two journeys into different parts Of tho
state the past year, have given general
idea, at least, of dairying in Vermont That
interest forms prominent feature in the
agriculture of the state, and butter making
appears to be the leading branch of it.
But Vermont does not seem to be as well
adapted to dairying as many other places
in which less attention is given to that in
dustry. 1t is exceedingly rough. The
back bone of the Green Mountains runs
through the state near its middle, and so
efectually cuts off communication between
the east and west sides, that the people
living in either division mingle and know
as little of each other as If they belonged
TO different states. The mountains reach
down to the level of the rest of the world,
not by gradual slopes, but by a succession
of mountain like hills of various heights
that are scattered, or rather thrown, along
the slopes of the mountain ranges in wild
confusion, some high and some low, some
rough and some gently rounded. The lit
tie streams and the highways make very
t0rtuous courses as they wind their ever
curving ways between and around these
multitudinous elevations, reminding one OF
the serpent's track, sit wires la and wires
out" etc. In the intervals between these
hills are often found stretches of rich and
comparatively level land, but on the more
elevated portion the soil is light and dry,
and the grass not at all remarkable for its
luxuriance. But ii has the redeeming quail
ity of being sweet and nutritious. On the
elevations above the trusions ofthe plough,
blue grass, Oh as il il here known, June
grass, forms everywhere tough sward,
large era of which, il seems 10 me, must
he necessary for the summer food of hearty
COW. So much of the soil is of the upland
Kind, that the number Of cows which can
he Kept upon given territory, must be
considerably less than in other places where
dairying forms, as It does in Vermont, n
lea ing branch. The land seems much
better adapted to sheep than to cows; and
1t is easy TO account for the distinction which
the state gained in sheep raising, in the
days when the production of wool and NUT
ton was moro profitable than it is now.
QUALITY OF BUTTER.
But dairying is successful and profitable
in Vermont. The butter from her hills,
wherever met with, is of the finest quality,
and more skill was shown in its maLufac-
ture, than found in the far famed county
OF Orange, in New York. Notwithstanding
all the hard obstacles of q high and rugged
soil and cold climate, Vermont is really
taking the lead Of the western world in the
line OF butter making. This fact will be-
come apparent to any observant dairyman,
upon attending the discussions at her state
dairymen's association. Nowhere (unless
II be in the southwestern counties of New
York; is the butter interest so well organ
lied, studied and discussed, as by the state
association of Vermont. The lead their
mountainous state has taken in butter pro-
Ia Inn t..l t,n
prise Of her yeomanry. In travelling
through the state was often reminded of
the boast Of one of her citizens, that "the
chief business of Vermont is raising men. {"
Among her farmers one everywhere meets
with the intelligence and fact, and also the
high moral qualities that usually character
ize the true sons of Yankee sires. Nowhere
has the blood of the primeval Yankees come
down with purer strains than appear in the
hardy dairymen among the Green Noun.
tains. circumstance occurred, while