Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1877-09-21
FARM AND PRESIDE.


weather, have done remarkably well, al
though since the late rains commenced
there is some complaint of rotting. Early
potatoes have done exceedingly well and
are of excellent quality generally. Prices
rule low. and It would seem that none need
go hungry for potatoes this year.
OATS, another cool weather crop, have
also flourished much better than IL the sea-
son had been bot and dry. A great amount
Of bright fodder has been secured. and
there has been very little complaint of blast
ing. In this portion Of New England, oats
are raised chiefly for the straw, and 1t Is
usually cut and cured just as the oats are
in full bloom, or little later.
RYE.-Both the winter and spring varie-
ties have also produced good crops, with
bright, plump grain.
BARLEY is raised in this vicinity much
less than formerly, but when grown at all
has done better than in average years,
WHEAT is said to have done better all
through New England than for many years.
1t is also good through the country gener-
ally, while in some States II is better than
ever before.
Corn grew rather slowly during the ear
ly part of the season, owing to the excess
of cold, but July and August heat has push
ed it forward rapidly, and with favorable
weather for ripening it this month, full
crop may be expected. More acres have
been planted this season to corn than for a
number of years previous, owing partly to
the success OF the Stock bridgs fertilizers
upon this crop, and partly to the compare
lively high prices of the grain at planting
time, but there is little danger Of producing
enough Of this crop in New England to
materially affect prices at present.
HAY has come 10 well upon all lands not
too badly run out by long cropping, or
which were not badly injured by the ex-
cessive droughts of past years. The cool
spring was favorable TO thick setting, the
frequent showers helped to carry out full
crop, and the damp, cloudy weather of Ju-
ly and August has given us heavy second
growth upon all The best fields. A great
deal of complaint has been heard about bad
weather for hay making, but these farmers
who commenced early, and were not afraid
to cut their grass in cloudy weather, have
generally found sunshine enough TO make
their hay between the storms and cloudy
days which have been so frequent.
MILLET has been sown this year TO a
much greater extent than ever before, far
mers having begun to realize the great val
ne of this annual as a supplement to the
hay crop. Millet, like corn, does best on a
warm, light soil, and in hot season. 1t is
a hot weather plant, consequently it has
shown tendency, this year, to rust and
blight, hut with such an unusual amount
sown, the aggregate yield will be very
large. The damp and showery weather has
also been very favorable to the growth of
feed in pastures and the aftermath in now
ing fields. Cattle will require much less
feeding at the stables this fall than usual,
and with full barns now, the prospect for
ample stores of fodder for winter use is
very promising.
GARDEN VEGETABLES, in such season,
must evidently be very plenty, except such
as require hot, dry weather for their per-
feet development Squashes and melons
would have been sweeter and richer had
there been little more sunshine concen-
trated within their shells, and tomatoes
would have ripened up with less rot, but
there has been enough sound fruit for all,
in spite of the damp, mouldy weather. On
ions have blasted badly in some sections,
owing to some unfavorable condition of the
season, but enough good, sound ones have
probably been produced to supply the full
est demand.
SMALL FRUITS, as straw berries, raspber-
rles, currants and black berries, were never
more abundant or of better quality. Straw
berries have been eaten this year by every
body except the farmers, who never think
to set out bed of plants until it is too late.
The fruit has done so well this year that
many will set plants for next year who
have never yet grown them, even for fami-
lyuse.
APPLIES were never more complete fail
ure than the present year, throughout the
greater portion of southern New England
In some few sections, a fair crop will be
gathered, but the great mass of the trees
are entirely idle this year, or only produce
just enough pnarled specimens to perpetu-
ate the race OF insects which latterly so in
jure the frnit in seasons of comparative
scarcity.
In some parts of northern New England
We oSeA VI hAOhEhio anu RThSSuOIlDtIS ut-
siroying the crops, but generally, through
ont The whole country, the crop reports are
unusually favorable. The people, both U
the West and the South, expect plenty s
food 10 eat the coming winler, but yet, ow-
ing 10 the disturbed or imperfect systems
ofexchange, all are not quite perfectly hap
Ply. Some complain of high freighis and
exorbitanl rates "f interest, and others OIL
low prices for produce, but il is not impos
sible that their own ignorance and want o.
foresight has had something to do in bring.
ing about the present condition of affairs
Western emigration and the settlement
Of new lands have undoubtedly been push.
cd beyond the requirements of the country
New lands have been taken up, aud new
towns and cities have been built largely
for speculative purposes, when the old
farms and the deserted villages would have
answered the wants of the people quite as
well, bad they bestowed upon them The
same energy given TO the development 0
new countries. So, If the Western farmer
now finds mere wheat and corn in his bin.
Than people TO buy it. and the Eastern cap
italist more railroads than can he kept il
use transporting them, they had both bet
ter stop q moment and consider whittier
their schemes are leading them. With
year of plenty of food, 1t is good time Il
atndy political If not personal economy.
THE HADITs OF BLACK BAss.-Setl
Green writes to the Forest and Stream
There are some kinds of Il sh that cast theil
spawn, and the parents never look ailei
them again. Nature has nrnyldad tha