Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1876-02-18
h the means Of dispensing sound and praoti.

il the means of dispensing sound and practi-
cal knowledge.
Great advantages might accrue to the far
mers If agricultural stations for the purpose
of trying experiments could be established.
Meanwhile let every farmer, however small
his acreage, start an experimental station Of
his own on a small scale.
Does farming pay? is vexed question
not yet settled. The farmers of Windham
county should take the matter up and BY
carefully kept accounts continued through a
series of years solve the question.
Mr. Green Of Fayetteville This is a
matter Of deep interest. Cramming is not
educating. We should think, not cram.
Our books and writer's in regard to success
in other occupations do not tell US how that
success has been obtained. The merchant
is seen 10 his palace aud his store, obtained
by means not always honest. As regards the
farmer they only tell of his rough hands aud
uucouth manner. The average farmer is tbs
most healthy aud happiest man 10 the com.
munity.
Prof Seely: There are many things the
farmer wishes to know, but which he has no
time to solve. An agricultural station
would do this There are 20 stations in Europe
and but one in America, at Middletown, CT
In regard to rising cream, some recommend
heating of the milk, others say cool it. A
station would settle this question. TIE ac-
tual value OF each commercial fertilizer
should be determined, also tho value Of diff.
fereut foods for cattle, impure and adultera.
ted seeds should be sampled aud tested
Careful experiments should be made to de.
termine what will antidote the potato disease
Questions in regard to fruit raising should
be tested by experiment. Questions like
these would be brought up and tested
Mr. Hubbard: The coming farmer is to
make himself by his own judgment, strength
and zeal. He will accept every truth,
wherever it comes from, which bears upon
his calling. He is continually reaching out
for these things, aud then he carries on his
farm Just as well as he knows how. If he
has swamp he knows how to make it bear
good crops. Instead of allowing his manure
pile to accumulate under the caves, he takes
care Of it. The coming farmer will make
farming pay.
Next 10 order came Col Mead's paper,
Opportunities for Young Farmers"
In the discussion following Rev Mr. Burn.
ham said, farmers might learn much by dis.
cussions among themselves, and they might
perform experiments themselves.
Col A. b. Franklin The opportunities
for young farmers ore great. They have
10 ii
The young farmer coming from our school:
has laid the foundation OF an education. He
may study the principles Of science; must
read, think aud ponder. Farmers must co.
operate. There should be an agricu tura
station where commercial fer.iliz rs can be
analysed.
Wednesday Morning.
The first paper was upon Apple Culture
by j. II. Putnam of Grafton.
In proportion to the money and labor re.
quired apple culture yields as good return,
as any other farm product. La this, as il
every other farm product, good culture is tn,
requisite of success. Should. other thing
being equal, prefer a southern or eastern ex
posure to northern or western. Among
the hills Of Vermont those soils which vii
produce good crops Of corn may safely b
planted with orchards, and the prepara tior
Of the soil should ne that required to grow
a good crop of corn, planting the trees wher,
the soil has become well mellowed by one
years cultivation aud the cultivation should
be continued. Twenty-Five feet each way
giving seventy trees to the acre, is the proper
distance TO set, though there is no harm il
setting nearer and cutting out part Of th,
trees when crowdiDg commences. Some rec
ommend digging large holes in which to Sc
trees, but if the soil is in proper condition
no great digging will be necessary; hol
sufficiently large to admit the roots withou
crowdiDg or twisting will be all that is nee
essary; deep hole filled with iertiliziny
material, if the subsoil is hard.pan, make
good dish to hold cold water, aud stagnan
cold water about the roots is death to an,
fruit tree. If necessary to set in an un
broken sod, dig broad holes rather than deep
and apply liberal amount OF fertilizinj
material at the time Of setting. In procur
ing trees get good ones from whatever sourc
they may come. Those that have made
thrifty, healthy growth aud have been neithe
forced nor stunted, aud the chances are stron
that those grown near home will, give tn
best satisfaction. Nurserymen and thei
agents are often charged with humbuggn
the people, they have many things to auswe
for, but the humbugs do not all come fron
western New York as great humbug a
there is in the. whole range of fruit GROWN
is that Of the crab apple stock for which tn
people are asked to pay one dollar pcr tree
The best sized tree to set is one that ha
grown three aud one.half to four and one
half feet and branched practically this siz
being better than those much larger, not II
quiriug so much cutting back.
If the trees are to be kept any length {
Of time before setting, they must be heele
in. The broken roots must be cut back
the sound wood The top Of the tree mu,
be trimmed to give it the proper shape an
also to restore the balance between the to
aud roots which has been destroyed 10 tran
planting. After the tree is properly prune,
wet the roots which will cause the soil
adhere more closely in setting; then plaC
| tHc titu u NHS uuio hpoh oihA' houuN
that tho roots will spread out ia their matt
raj direction, then holding the tree perfect
upright fill around it with the best soil whiC
it is possible to obtain taking care TO plat
no manure in immediate contact with ii
roots work the soil among the roots so thi
no space will be left untitled. Shake Il
tree occasionally during the process, and a
ter the roots are we'll covered press the ear
firmly down with the foot After the tr,
is set it should be mulched. Try TO rai
no other crop with the trees unless the SC
is well cultivated and mauured each yea
Iu manuring an orchard apply the fcrtiliz
broadcast TO the whole sdrface Of the soil
the small rootlets which take up plant fo'
are at distance from the tree.
Pruning is a part Of the subject up,
which there is endless variety of theory al
practice. Starting right with the your
tree but little pruning will be required
any one time, but this little must be attend
I