Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-03-22
Vermont Farms.


This winter it was my fortune TO call at
Mr.. Gilmore's place, and see a few evidences
Of thoughtful and judicous management;
and from my brief notes | would bring them
to your notice. The home farm is two hun.
dred and twenty acres, with two hundred
acres Of sheep pasture at some distance
away. The farm is crossed by the railroad,
and extends down TO the Connecticut river,
where portion receives the benefits Of irri-
CATION by the overflow Of the stream Above
this there is some level land, well adapted to
tilhge The corn crop is quite prominent
Ten acres were raised last year and yielded,
(lIis father once raised on this farm ninety
eight bushels shclled corn peracre) About
FIVE hundred bushels were husked by one
man, at three cents bushsl. 1t is stored in
a good corn-barn. in cribs around the sides
The inside of the crib is in hinged sections.
that fold mp higher and higher as the crib is
filled, ten or twelve feet high. The corn i.
remarkably sound and good. picked on,
one ear with corn upon it, fourteen inches
aud was told there were ears fifteen inches
long. IN this com.baru over a third Of TIA,
floor /. elevated about fourteen inches aboy,
the main floor. In this elevated floor il
about five feet square of latticed floors over
which the con-sheller stands and as tn,
corn is shelled it goes through into a larg
box below, which is upon rollers on an iroi
track, and can be drawn ont upon the mali
floor when the corn is to be put in bags
The cobs are separated by the latticed floor
aud do not fall in with the corn. Most
this corn will be- fed to oxen cows and young
cattle upon the ear, about ten ears TO each
COW, every day. II is also 50 fed to thu
stock. could easily accept the idea O.
feeding sheep. hogs, horses and fowls OIL
whole corn, but was not ready 10 endors,
whole corn on the ear for cattle | sue
/ gcsted there must be some waste. " Yes
perhaps So" said Mr. G.. But is there moi
some waste in the time Of shelling, carrying
to mill, mller's toll, and cleaning manger
aud boxes to feed meal - SO there is and
farmers with good crop Of corn should sat
isfy themselves Of their best course in feed
ing. Or will they adoptan idea Of the enthu-
siastic Ross and raise acres of corn and feed
it on the stalks Or will they adopt the plan
Of my neighbor Ufford, who cures theears Of
corn unhusked, boils the ears in their husks
aud feeds them TO cows and young stock
But how does Mr.. Gilmore raise so fine acrol
Of corn After haying, he breaks up the sod
ground and harrows it, In winter and
spring draws manure upon it, and then, be
fore planting, cross plows it rather shallow
so as to cover or intermugle the manure
with the surface soil, and not so deep as tC
turn up the sod. This, when narrowed, make.
a good seed-bed, and, with good seed, plant
ing and cultiyatinc. a good crop is almost
certain
The corn fodder, aiterthe ear, are husked
is taken from the floor by horse fork, anc
carried away to the top OF the barn, anc
scattered upon the high beams and bays.
The barn is new, and well arranged il
the shape of two sides of n square, will
floor the whole lcugth, one hundred anC
seventy-four feet, and of such " idth that tn,
loaded team can turn the corner, and go il
at one end and ont at the other or, with
short cart-body, turn at the corner and bacl
its load OF corn, where it is tipped up. Beau
! tiful mows of hay ON one side, and stable
part of the way, on the other.
In the roomy basement, are three hundre
fne-woolcd sheep with a few colts and youn
cattle, separated conveniently.
While many things about thi, well al
ranged farm establishment are worthy o
r notice, have only recorded the evidences d
original thought in the corn crop, the pref
aration Of the soil, husking, cribbing, shell
ing, feeding and storing the stalks.
T. f. JAMESON.