Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-11-22

Inn rNR, or H. .. fl1R, rsQ, or BURKE
Nothing gives MS more pleasure than to
put ON record the history OF just such energy,
skill and success as we find in the following
account of the operations of Caledonia
county farmer, reported by a correspondent
Of the Newport Epre~ That people
laughed at him, and even some called him
names,' IS not at all contrary to the expert.
ence OF other improving farmers But the
old proverb. " let them laugh that win" will
comfort every one who perseveres in such
useful labors, as it has no doubt already
comforted Mr.. Fyler 81. +. Fyler has a
farm of two hundred and fifty acres situated
three-quarlers OF a mile north Of Burke llol-
low It lies upon both sides Of the stream,
the pasture and most of the woodland being
on the east, and the remainder about twenty
acres, which embraces his tillage land, on
the west side. The land slopes toward the
stream is quite moist and stony, but very
rich and productive. The soil is composed
Of muck and hard.pan, the former from ten
TO fifteen inches deep. The surface is un-
even and difficult To- get over. Mr.. Fyler
took possession of this farm about five years
ago. II at once became a subject of study
as to how he was to get rid of the stone,
make the land dry. smooth down the knoll.
aud make his field one of easy cultivation.
He had heard of drainage but whether that
was to be the most profitable thing done,
was the question. After much thought hc
reasoned out a method Of his own. lie was
going to ditching, but was going to have it
different from dtchiug ia common. lIeuh
what he terms his main ditch through his
field where he thought it would Shut of the
might be able to cultivate IT, This he dug
from ten TO fifteen feet wide and four feet
deep not % square ditch as is the custom, but
concaye, which he did with the plough aud
scraper. Into this he put the stone, cover
ing them with the same soil, leaving the
surface rounding. From this main branch
shoot off other lines of like work. lie had
the most difficult trial In carrying out his
idea. People laughed at him, and even
some called him names. lie could not al
ways get help because of the seemingly
fruitless project But the first aud main
ditch was completed after desperate strug-
gle, and it proved to be just what was
needed. It not only served as reservoir
for the stone and made dry the land for cub
tiyation, but road into his field These
bitches when completed were as driyeways
into the field; aud when cutting hay or
grain they car be followed so that the soft
land is not cut up 10y heavy loads passing
over it, lie has improved somewhat upon
his first attempt, and now has his plan re-
duced to system lie takes three acres
each year, and first digs the stone; then he
is ready to dig his ditch, for he knows how
many he has got to get rid off. Then he
ploughs, following back every furrow, taking
ont the stone that may have been passed
over the first time. lie scrapes off the
knobs and makes the ground level. cover
| ing his ditch as before, leaving it slightly
rounding, with depth of soil enough to ena-
ble him to plough over it without dis
turbing the stone. lie is now ready to put
in his crop of oats. The next year he takes
three acres more, and goes through the same
process. Two crops of oats are taken before
seeding down, and in this way has six acres
under cultivation every year lie seeds it
with Timothy hay seed, and the grass is
rank aud holds its kind we'll lie gets from
a crop of oats from seventy-fye to ninety
bushels to the acre. Though it costs high,
and many a hard days work, Fyler is going
to get his pay in the future by having one
Of the best farms to get over, and one that
will recompense him in the production of
the best of crops