Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1877-04-13
Must Grain Raising in Vermont be
Abandonedi

OIhiu hdtSiug ~ NetnOub Oo AOauuoueu
No question of greater importance in my es-
timation will be discussed at, this session Of the
board. 1t is grave and serious one, and one
we have got to meet and look squarely in
the face. 1t is simply whether we are to
remain in the future, as in the past, largely
grain raising state, or whether we are to
become pastoral and grazing people, let
ting portion Of our cultivated fields return
to their native element, growing wood 10.
stead of being as now, the grazing fields of
the state. Shall the greater pro6tableness
OF grass crowd out other productions until
like the South we depend upon the West for
our grain and rely upon the profits from our
hocks and herds for subsistence and whatever
we may have of life that is worth enjoying.
Let us look at the wheat crop as it once
was and is now. Formerly wheat was the
staple product Of the state. 1t was grown
not only for family use, but large surplus
to sell with which the bills of the farmer
were largely paid. 1t was by far the surost
crop, safer from early or late frosts and found
a more ready market than any other product
of the farm. Foreign wheat or -four was
unknown. Forty.two years this winter in
one Of the hill districts of Waterford one
man, from some cause, failed to raise enough
wheat for family consumption. He brought
home barrel Of -four while was boarding
there, and it was soon neised round the dis.
trict that Mr.. IL. had got barrel of Genesee
-four and at nearly every family where l
boarded after the woman Of the house was
careful to let me understand that l should
not fare as we'll with them as at the other
place for they had no barrel -four. How is
it now think am safe iu saying that
not half Of the farmers in the county raise
their own wheat, and that more money is
sent out Of the county for wheat or its
product than for any other article except,
perhaps, whiskey and tobacco. 1t may be
that Peacham, which grows more wheat than
any other town in the county according TO
reputation, may raise as much as they use at
least among the farmers. One thing do
know, that if they do buy part of their -four,
they buy the least whiskey of any towu in
the county Of equal population.
But lest my Peachaw friends should feel
too much flattered with what 1 have said
about their drinking habits, | will relate q
little of their early history. The original
propretors Of the town loved whiskey, or
they knew Of somebody who did, for large
number of the farms were bought and paid
for one half in cash and the other half 10
potato whiskey, and the sites Of thirty Ave
whiskey mills can be pointed out 10 various
parts of the town. But to come back to our
subject Are we ever to raise our wheat
again in Caledonia county? II SO how is il
to be done And right here is where we
want the wisdom of this board, whose duty
and pleasure it will be to put US on the right
track. Now, gentlemen OF the board, those
of you who are scienti6c farmers, eau you
tell US how We can grow our own wheat at a
less expense than to buy our four2 Aud you,
practical farmers, will your tell US from the
light Of your experience how it can be done
Do you do it on your own farms, or do you
do as we do 10 Caledonia county, buy your
-four and not only -four but shorts and every.
thing that can be made out OF wheat Ac
cording to the report of the department o.
agriculture for 1875, the average yield il
the state was III bushels per acre; that th,
average price Sl.55 per bushe. Now, ii
that paying crOp2 Or can we do better, a
our farmers think, many of them, and buy
their wheat prOduCt2 If the board or an!
one else can give us a method that will Civ
US paying crOKs Of wheat iu this state the!
will have done a work that would be Of NOR,
permanent beueft to the state, ten times over
than the meOgre appropriation that has beer
grudgingly dOled out to tho board for tn
dissemination of agricultural information il
the state.
Now, let us look at the corn crop, which
is supposed to be safer crop in these years
having fewer insect enemies, aud that it viii
bring much better return than wheat. AC
cordipg to the report referred to above th
average corn crop Of the state was 81 bushels
average price "a cents value per acr
s34.7S. Now, is there anything we ea
raise that will pay better than corn If s
what is it2 Some of the best farmers {
J. this county have discarded corn as a graf
crop, growing it largely for fodder, believiu
they get better returns with the same expeni
than with it as a grain crop. An intelligeT
farmer Of an adjoining town gave it as b
opinion that at least one-half Of the acreal
that was put to corn 10 that town was 6
fodder and not for grain, aud that the fOdd,
Of crop was increasing yearly. Other farme
:. grow their corn as for grain crop aud whC
a, fairly in the milk cut and cure it as for
" " grain crop aud feed it on the stalk. Son
good farmers l know Of that formerly gre
"a % beeis turnips, etc., believe they can gro
ID corn fodder at less expense and have Civ
in up the root crop entirely. l doubt tho wi
dom of this class Of farmers, believing th