Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1876-04-07

out reBhIu 10 leuVlnB Tue ltnu III sulIapV
condition for crop Of grass, is short-sighted
farming and if persovered in will 6ud the
bottom Of the hay NOV before we are ready
to see it, The hog pen, the hen roost, the
sink spout, and the privy each furnish an
abundant supply Of fertilizing material, that
quite too often goes to waste. And yet, if
wo would spend the time and money saving
these waste products that are annually spent
upon boughten compounds, we would make
safe investment and be sure Of a speedy re.
turn. While on the other hand, the buying
Of these patent manures is, at the best, an un-
certain and precarious investment and nine
times out Of ten does more to empty our
purses than to fill our barns. If the farms
and farmers of Vermont have degenerated to
that point that it has become necessary to
20 to the West for our flour and corn, aud to
Massachusetts for our manure, then we
might about as well give up the ship, or
what is better, perhaps, place ourselves un.
der the tuition of this enlightened board, and
hope for better things. l fear, however,
that perhaps it might be with us as it was
with those that listened to the advice and
councils of Franklin. They heard and APP
proved his doctrines, and Immediately prac-
tccd the opposite.
In opening the discussion following Mr..
TIoldens paper, G.S. Fassett, member of the
board, said, one important thing is to control
fertilizers, and have. them analyzcd. People
are learning to purchase iortlizing ingredi-
cnts for much less cost than formerly, in this
way.
A. 7. Smith of New Haven said he was
much pleased with the paper on "Fsrtiliz9rs, "
and also Mr.. Fisk's paper on "Leaks in
Farming lie advised young men to begin
in season to find girl that could make good
butter, and they would have a nucleus
around which the rest would gather. YER
mont is bank that the world can draw on
at sight for men or women.
Mr.. Il. w. Bisbec said in regard to
raising beets, fnd it best to put them in
early, AMI harvest them before frost. got
caught last season by being too late in plant
ing and lost nearly my eutire crop.
The next paper was by Col. j. B. Mead
OF West Randolph on Saving of Fertilizers
which has been before abstracted The com,
parison of the United States with China and
Japan as to agricultural economy, with hi,
conclusions in favor of the latter countries
awakened a lively discussion Of that ques.
ton, as well as of the general topics sug.
gcsted. We omit parts Of the discussions
bearing on the China question,
Mr.. Hastings of WaitsGed inquired what
the probable effect of muck aud manure OIL
grass ground would be, aud what kind o
grass ground should it be used on ?
Col. Mead would apply it to worn
out sod. Top-drcssiug should not be applied
to sod when the grass roots are worn-out.
prefer to mix manure with the soil, an,
find poor results from top-dressing on dr.,
land.
s. p. Joslin Of Waitsfeld said he agree,
with the idea of saving fertilizers as sug
gested by Col. Mead. A farmer canno
purchase commercial fertilizers to advantage
In this respect he is differently situated iron
a man near large city engaged in markc
gardening, He thought there was NOR
grass-Oar principal crOP-produccd nov
than several years ago. He would like t.
know how to keep his pastures up.
o, NJ. Tinkham of Pomlret inquired o
Mr.. Joslin it there was more grass per acr
than formerly.
Mr.. Josin Yes.
Mr.. c. G. Pringlo of Charlotte said tn
l exhaustion of potash and phosphate is tn
, cause Of the depletion Of our pastures.
have used pbosphates on my pastures wit
r great success If use it all the time,
/ find it pays me- don't know that it woul
5 you. | have used phosphate rock which
I almost pure bone,
Mr.. Tinkham In Pomlret we feed brar
G and after feeding get the benefit OF the pho'
D phate in it.
. G, II. Crandal referred to his experionc
+ in using hen manure in mixing it with ashes
b aud said it had produced bad results.
y COL Mead said if he had taken muck an
i. mixed it with the hen manure, he would hav
! been surprised, 1t is a bad practice to mi
d hen manure with horse manure. The au
c monia is released by using it with other mi
r nures.
r. &. S. Fassett The manure should |
). ground Or dissolved before mixing it with ii
= loan.
t o. NJ, Tinkham have heard it was
It good plan to mix it with road dust.
Q q. Horace Hubbard Of Springfield sa
i that for every pound of cheese or bushel
= corn, or every young animal killed aud ca
,f ried away, there is a loss of phosphoric aoi
1t When We consider the enormous frauds
'e commercial fertilizers, the farmer wants
is know how to restore the lost properties
= the soil with the least expense. In my opi
70 ion wheat bran is the best for this purpos
Q, The Improvement to tho animals under III
g system Of feeding is nearly clear gain. D
70 first duty is to save what fertilizers We hA'