Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-03-08
Farmers Meeting.

Of Irasburgh Mr. Jameson began his subject BY
showing specimens Of different grasses, and speak
ing Of their value q. forage. Among the speci-
mems were the Kentucky blue. Joint orchard grass
and foul meadow varieties lie said that he had
the blue-joint growing on his farm: did not think
II as good as some other varieties, but great
yielding grass lie advised sowing different kinds
for pastures especially white clover, although the
price Of seed was high lie spoke Of orchard
grass ~ being valuable on account Of its rapid
growth and Of red clover on account Of liz Weld
and the value as a fertilizer. He said Il should be
sowed often on account Of its being short-lived
The subject turned to topdrcssne and he said that
we did not iop-drcss as much as we should spoke
OF sowing plaster, thought II OF little value nm
less sown before the grass began to run out He
spoke Of irrigation and its benefits. showing speci-
mems Of swail grass to show what water would
do on grass.
The subject then turned to the cutting and cur
ing ofhay Hon T. u. Mason, President Of the Yer
mont Dairyman's Association, spoke In regard 10
cutting grass early and said he had rather cut his
grass before the blossom was on stalk than to wait
until Il hadgone of lie spoke Of early cut hay as
feed for cows in milk and that he fed his cows
principally on early cut hay without much grain,
between milkings spoke Of handling cows and
unFlhs tem 70 and rom the pasture SAID That
nc wanted no dogs TO dr'e MS cows spoke OF ms
mode Of feeding cows In winter, that he fed twice
a day thought It better than feeding three or
four times. He said he salted his cows twice
week, watered them once day, and kept them
In the barn most Of the time unless the weather was
very mild said he MIXED his cows ten months in
AL na
properly leu ana tended Inc question was asked
no" ne kept MS pastures up ana ne replied by
'op-uIessihs WIN manure ana brushing III he was
asked "na' A'no oi corn hesoweo ior fodder ana
repbed' sweet corn ne was asked u he fed his
meadows IN the ialli said he didi but not close;
ne was asked what proportion OF his grass was
cut before II was IN blossom he said from one
quarter to one-hali he was asked which was the
best breed OF cows Tor tue dairy he said that the
native kind was the best Tor cheese, but the Ayr
shires the oest ior Ont'er some other questions
were asked, and the meeting was adjourned until
evening" al seven clock
The meeting was called to order at seven O'Clock
py 'he chairman, anu MI Mason addressed the
meeting on the subject oil Keeping the boys at
nome hthe iArm' lie spoke OF consulting boys
IN regard TO tho iarm and farm labor, 80 as u
nave them interested IN farm pursuits and to see
that they are not banished at the tender age OF
childhood from the school OF early instruction to the
"oors oil the he'u before the mnd mas received that
gentle care and training which enliyens, explains
and dlgnihes labor lie said that the young
farmer should have such educational advantages
as VIII enable him TO work old land worn-out lands,
and get remunentiye crops from them Unless
lis hE n 80 obi
hood and seek fairer lands.
Mr.. Jameson spoke at some length on the sub
lect, and the meeting adjourned to the next day
at ten O'Clock, A NJ, when the meeting was
called to order by the chairman. Mr.. johnson
introduced as the subject Tor tins session. the POI
tato, by showing specimens, and relating the orr
gin OF the potato lie said that 1t originated Ia
Chili and Peru not in Ireland as many supposed.
lie spoke OF Goodrich and his labors In propagat-
ing the potato. lie then spoke OF the Early Rose
variety, OF its merits and dement's and said that
some thought that they were inferior TO some
other varieties lie claimed that there must be
some good qualities In them as they commanded
the hlghestprce IN market general discussion
WAS then gone into ON the subject at some length
and the meeting adjourned to one o'clock. In the
afternoon Mr. Andrews, from Berlin read dis
course on the subject OF Fruit, and showed
specimens, among others specimen from tree
eighty-three years old. lie spoke of the crab va
rieties-said that every farmer should have few
trees of this kind. He said land suitable for trees
trees should be selected direct from the nursery,
should he set twenty feet apart, and the ground
cultivated for two or three years; bury all old
bones at the roots, but have no manure come in
contact with the roots, nor heap up dirt around
the tree in setting. He said that he washed his
trees every year with a wash made from soap,
three quarts Of soap to ten gallons Of water lie
said he preferred low lmbng in apple trees
thought 1t protected them from strong winds and
facilitated the gathering Of the fruit lie spoke
OF ashes as being good fertilizer for apple trees
and said that he used barn-yard manure as a top
dressing in his orchards, but not too near the
roots of the trees.