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

ityf Their name is legion. AT our agrlcul-
tural fairs Yes, annually as the season for
our farmers holiday comes around, we are
called upon to listen to some lawyer or
member of congress, who takes it upon him
self to tell US what they know about farm
ing, and to give us the necessary instructions
pertaining to that humble art. At the same
time they were using their best endeavors to
beat il into our thick heads that our calling
is the only sure road to wealth, honor, and
prosperity. A few years ago, at our state
fair, the farmers of Vermont had the privi-
lege of listening to the advice and councils of
the editor, farmer, philosopher, and statesman,
Horace Greeley. Surely, councils from such
source ought to bring forth fruit worthy of
the name. We should expect from him, at
least, such advice as would be of practical
value, such as he would practice as well as
teach. About the same time we learned
from correspondent Of the New England
Farmer, who was visiting the farm and
homestead of this venerable teacher, and
found his men busy carting in hay and grain
on common one-horse dump-cart, tying it
on with ropes And yet this modern, model,
farmer was receiving one hundred dollars
per day teaching the sturdy yeomaury Of
Vermont what he knew about farming
Annually we are visited by apple tree
peddlers whose chief stock in trade is glib
tongue, and book filled with fine pictures of
apples, grapes, plums, etc. They tell us that
our homes need no longer go without these
luxuries of life; that after long and patient
trials they have succeeded in producing a
healthy and hardy variety that is sure to
flourish in the climate of our pleasant valley.
Forgetting the dwarf humbug and the ltte
green, sour crabs in our garden, we are quite
apt to give this new aspirant for our favor a
small order and let him pass on. About one
year ago, a man came to our place and circu.
lated his advertisements of free lecture, tho
object being to teach us how to grow three
blades of grass where one grew before An
important subject, truly, and one worthy OF
our special attention. A man that can teach
it in a practical manner might surely be
called benefactor of his race Aud yet,
all this could be had without money and
without price. As might be expected the
hall was well filed with farmers eager to
! Al, I'll L.
came off according to programme except in
one important particular. The grand secret
whereby to accomplish such wonderful re-
suits, was in the manufacture and use Of a
special fertilizer for which he had received a
patent the right to manufacture and use he
would sell to each individual for the small
sum Of three dollars each. was one of the
lucky eight or ten that purchased the right
procured the material and manufactured
according to directions. made about seven
hundred pounds at a very low cost compared
to what they pretended to sell it for. used
this compound on corn and potatoes, putting
r about onc.half pint in each hill, The corr
was no better for the application Of the fer
tilizer; the potatoes were very little better
where that was used, but not enough to hall
! pay the trouble and expense. have tried
other commercial fertilizers, and some will
E equally good success as the foregoing. Among
the most successful is BradoyS suporphos
phate of lime; forty cents worth Of it OF
potatoes increased the crop to the amount o
= one bushe potatoes just about making onl
hand wash the othor, and leaving the trouble
q of handling for the profit, Not very cncour
E aging, that but better than throwing GU
r money away without receiving any return
+ Plaster or gypsum have used when it NOR
q than doubled the crop; and again, | ha,
r used it when it was Of no uso whatever. o.
Z the land which | now occupy, it is Of no US
whatever. Thus, it would seem, it is of un
certain value, and that farmer had bette
. test it on a small scale before investing muc
- money in procuring it as a stimulant for hi
!, crops. A. well-knOwn agricultural write
h says, That while phosphOric acid is an o'
sontial part of all fertile soils, it is not tn
"a only substance required, for the appicatio
i of phosphates may be made without any ap
Il parent good results owing to the absence @
q other substances not less necessary" Wit
!. view to supply every important qualrt
much ingenuity is employed in making art
fetal mixtures, not only to furnish specia
=, manures for special crops, but such as woul
~ satisfy the wants of all vegetation; but "
- cannot refrain from cautiOning the iarmC
> against the exaggerated accounts now every
:, where published in favor Of certain fertilizer
- They are far from being what they are d,
scribed either in composition or effect. A
the best, composts would frequently turn OF
to be mere diutions or attempts to make I'll
t. truly useful to do moro service than is poss
It. BILE. The most shameful impositions are b
ur ing daily practiced. From the nature
OF the substances employed, these frauds cann
n. be detected by the farmer Would ii not
he better, far better, instead Of spending h
at hard.earnod money for these unusual mi
ho lures to use such as he may manuiactu
so upon his own ground, under his own ey
IL from materials of positive utility, hayiI
at in view tho advantages Of good, futu