The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1877-09-28
Agricultural Department.
CONDUCTED BY ALBERT CHAPMAN
The Season.


The longest "spel" of dog DAYS
weather we remember for several years,
seems now to be ended. Dog-day
weather has been the rule for three
whole months in this section, being
interrupted only once by short season
of drought. Southern New England
has this year had sample of the kind
of weather often so prevalent in Old
England In the early part of the sea-
son, although fogs and clouds prevailed,
yet no great amount of rain fell. Except
a short time in the early part of July,
the weather has been unusually favor
able for the growth of all kinds of vege-
tation.
Potatoes, which delight in cool, damp
weather, have done remarkably well,
although since the late rains commenced
there is some complaint of rotting. Ear
ly 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 if the
season had been hot and dry. A great
amount of bright fodder has been Sc
cured, and there has been very little
complaint of blasting. In this portion
of New England, oats are raised chiefly
for the straw, and ii is usually cut and
cured just as the oats are in full bloom,
or little later.
Rye.-Both the winter and spring
varieties 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 generally, while in some states
it is better than ever before.
Corn grew rather slowly during the
early part of the season, owing to the
excess of cold, but July and August
heat has pushed il forward rapidly, and
with favorable weather for ripening it
this month, Il full crop may be expected.
More acres have been planted this sea-
son to corn than for a number of years
previous, owing partly TO the success of
the Stockbridge fertilizers upon this
crop, and partly to the comparatively
high prices of the grain at planting
time, but there is little danger of pro-
duclng enough OF TINS crop Ill New En-
gland TO materially Affect prices at
present.
Hay has come in well upon all lands
not 100 badly run out by long cropping,
or which were not badly injured by the
excessive droughtS of past years. The
cool spring was favorable thick setting
the frequent showers helped to carry
out 1ull crop, ana the damp, cloudy
weather. OF July and August has given
us heavy second growth on all the
pest helds; "A great deal OF complaint
mas been heard about dry weather for
hay-lhaklhg, Dut those farmers who
commenced early, and were not afraid
10 cut thelr grass III cloudy weather,
nave generally found sunshine enough
10 make Their hay between the storms
ana cloudy days which have been so
frequent.
Millet has been sown this year to a
much greater extent than ever before,
farmers having begun to realize the
great value OF this annual as supple
ment to the hay crop. Millet, like corn,
aoes pest Oh warm, hght soil, and i'll
not season. IL Is hot weather plant,
consequently 1t has shown tendency,
inns year, TO rust and blight, but with
such an unusual amount sown, the ag-
gregate weld Will be very large. The
damp ana showery weather has also
been very favorable to the growth of
iced III pastures and the aftermath in
moving nelds. 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. Hay
must rule little lower in the vicinity
OF Boston than for the past year. Plen-
iy Of feed means high prices for store
cattle, or at least no forcing of half
starved animals Oh TO dull market, so
that although cows may sell high, dairy
products must be i'll full supply, and