Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1877-02-16

ture. The wood-pecker is very destructive
to these borers, aud these birds are valuable
to the farmers In reply to a question as
to the value Of crows, he said 81 don't be
lieve in the crow" as in the spring they rot
birds nests of eggs or young he had known
pair to eat the young Of four robins nest:
in one forenoon.
| FRIDAY MORNING.
The morning opened beautifully; the sky
was clear as azure, and the air crisp as be-
comes temperature just above zero. Be-
fore it was fairly day our stirring host
called US for breakfast, and We must say the
hour of rising was little earlier than the
average on our calendar, but the wholesome
farmers breakfast" with the old.time gen.
erous bowl of "miIk gravy" with potatoes
as white and meay as -four and as sweet as
the best, were compensative for early rising
Then we took look at fine flock of Mer-
mos, some colts, and the fowls, for which our
host-D. e. Spaulding, near Taftsville-
is noted. The Plymouth Rocks are his spe-
cialty, and by careful breeding he secured
in these the highest style of perfection.
Among his other varieties, Royal Javas,
Partridge Cochins, White and Bro wn Leg.
horns, and a magnificent pair of Pekin
ducks.
Behind pair Of speckled horses we rode
rapidly to the Gushing place" on the north
side of the Quechee and saw fine herd of
Merinos in we'll arranged barns, and if we
could develop fancy for the black wrinkled
Merinos, those would strike US as models.
They were indeed fine herd.
Thence we rode to the stock barns of
Hon. Frederick Billings, where his intelli.
gent and geutlemanly farmer, George
Weston, took US through the yards aud barns.
Mr.. Billings keeps thoroughbred Southdowns,
many of which he has imported; one buck
he purchased at the centennial, and the finest
animal we ever saw. Mr.. Billings stock re
in very fine condition, which shows the con.
slant care and good judgment with which
they are treated. The Berkshire pigs,
black as coal, but bright and plump as need
be were very fiue, only we like white pig
better for Appearances sake. Into the
root cellar we went to see few tons of
mange-wurzels, Of which his stock get a
good daily ration. But nothing took our
eye like that herd of Jerseys. About
dozen very fine COWS, some imported, and as
many calves and yearlings in a clean, whole.
some well.lighted stable, warm enough
when we were there to sit down and read
comfortably. OF course the stables are
models, but we think Mr.. Billings is not
breeding we'll, his bullocks are not up to the
standard, we thought, not as good as
the yoke of steers in the adjoining
stalls. Altogether, howeverit is very 6no
herd of cattle and finely cared for Thence
we were taken by Mr.. McKensio to
Mr.. Billings green house, filled with rare
exotics as we'll as good stock of indigen-
Gus plants 1t was an hour Of rare pleasure
that we spent among those plants and the
ride to and from behind Mr.. Mex enzie's
MOrgans was highly oxhilarating and we
wish to record our gratitude to our friend
for his devotion to the Morgan horses, in.
stead Of the fashionable stock of the pres
ont time. BY lingering so long among the
choice treasures of Mr.. Billings we lost the
hearing of Mr.. Spaulding's paper on poul-
try, but we shall publish it by and by, and
every lover Of fowls will enjoy it in its COM
pleteness. In the discussion which followed
Mr.. Fassett said his son has the Silver
Spanglod Hamburgs, Is hens laid l76 dozen
eggs, and raised 45 chickens, and on the
basis of 20 cents for eggs and chickens at so
cents the total income amounts to S57.70,
the cost of keeping ho estimates at Sl5,
leaving net profit of S42,70. For winter
feed his son cuts and dries rowen which he