Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-04-05

Vermont Farms.
Tur FARM AND STOCK OF n. VI. NAIL, Iati,i /
EAST nURKE, VERMONT.
For forty years past a herd Of Devon cat
tie have been kept and bred upon one farm
by one man, with that steady persi,tency that
is always a characteristic Of the successful
cattle breeder and is ia degree necessary
in successful farming. During the last |
twenty years have occasionally visited the /
farm, and always found progress aud i'm |
provement. With friend Locke { again |
looked the stock over last October. On this !
upland farm Of about three hundred acres [
that has been occupied soyenty-five years /
there is no falling oft Of products. One hun |
dred and twenty-five tons Of hay are cut I
early and cured as well as the season will |
permit Good crops OF wheat corn, pota |
toes aud oats are common and almost sure.
Good crops OF sweet corn, raised for fodder.
and Of turnips, have rewarded ordinary care.
Clover hay, well cured, is especially priced,
aud is believed to be almost perfect food
for COW, aud sheep.
How is the fertility OF thi, upland farm
sustained The secret is in part revealed
in the large piles of manure in the yard,
which had been thrown from the sheep pens
whore one hundred and twenty-five large
Cotswold sheep had been kept the previous
winter. These pens, in the fall, are filled
six or eight inches deep with muck. Upon
this the sheep are kept, and in the spring or
summer following this muck and manure is
thrown into the yard to be exposed to few
showers. That, and the yardiug Of cows
upon it, causes the whole mass to be excel
lent manure Muck is also put into the
yards and under the sheds, The Cotswold
sheep seem TO be Of good health and consti-
tuition, heavy shearers, and attain large size.
Sixteen and one-half pounds was the weight
of one rams fleece, and ten pounds and over
are quite common heeces Although the
Cotswolds, bred pure prove excellent sheep,
they cross well upon other breeds. Even
moderate sized Merino ewes produce half
blooded Cotswold lambs that have beauti-
full long, thick fleece, aud make good
growth for mutton Among the Cotswolds
of New England this flock takes high rank
for good forms, health and thrift.
The Devon herd now numbers only
twenty head. The fvcyears-old bul weighs
one thousand eight hundred pounds, and is
very perfect in all its Devon characteristics.
This bull was bred from this stock but has
been owned part Of the time 10y Geo. Davis,
of East Montpelier lie shows in his psrfec-
ton that the stock has not deteriorated while
it has been kept here, as this bnll is as near
perfect as any ever bred here. lie came
from nm excellent cow for hn,ter, q very rich
mixer.
The young stock is Of that round sym
metrica form that commends the Deyons to
the practical farmer. The COWS are good
mixers, and make butter Of excellent color
and texture.
1t is an encouraging fact that the old Gus
toners of Mr. Hall, that have tried other
bloods, are again making inquiries as to
price, and are again buying Devons.
With the excellent chance he has had tC
become acquainted with other breeds, h,
declares il he was young again and com
mencing farming, the cattle he would choose
would be Deyons, believing that with or
binary care and in ordinary pastures, they
would in thrift and profit, surpass all 9th
ers and with extra care and abundant feed
would give couespondiugly satisfactory re
suits. A few years ago he kept sixty heaC
Of Devons and bred two distinct families
so there was no need of in and in breeding
and up TO the present time, lac has neve
closely bred in and in. lie aims to produce
E such sheep and cattle as shall do well in til,
e hands of his customers, wherever they go.
5 In the Devon herd-book of 1872, Mr.. Hal
e had recorded eighteen females aud five males
His first stock was from the first importation
of Patterson, of New Jersey, and the herd o
llurlburt, Of Connecticut.
There is a constant cropping out Of pub
lie sentiment in favor of this breed as showl
, in letter to Col. Waring, in the Februar,
, number Of the american Agricufwia. Tn
; writer says, " For my own use, should pre-
fer the Devons, but don't know whether
could sell them so we'll as Jerseys"
3 Col Waring responds, aud after a long al
ray of facts and figures, says of Devon'
( GOOD though they are, in all respects, the
! have retired from the fancy market" Thi
' preference and this goodness in all respect
T will bring them again into demand anon
b those who like stock good in all respects
+ u. L. jameson.