Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1878-10-18

| THAT OF HON. ALEXIS 7. SMITH, OF VERGESNES.
While at the Chittenden County Fair,
your correspondent listened with much in
terest 10 the address delivered by Hon.
Alexis I. Smith, of Nergennes. Particular
ly interesting was that portion in which the
speaker adverted to the crossing OF Durham,
on grade stock, for increased size and quail
ity of beef Tbs speaker also called aiten-
ton to the increased demand for our beeves
in foreign markets Mr.. Smith is well
known TO be pliiD, practical farmer,
whose half a century or more of experience
adds weight to his opinions. While in Yer
| gennes, short time since, your cOrrespGn-
| dent accepted an invitation TO Join a party
composed of some of the representative farm
ers OF the Champlsin valley, who were about
to visit one of the farms of Mr.. Smith, to ex-
anime superior herd OF 100 head of three
year-old steers. Among the party were Mr..
CyrIs BotsiOrd whose excellent farm nesr
Nerg. nnrs ia noted for producing superior
Durham stock. and for one Of the fines.
diaries OF COWS IN the vicinity. Mr.. Avery
Hatch. whose largo farm IN West Addison
has made him well known as u producer of
wool. mutton and ".rgs5-ie" steers, was
with us; and another agreeable addition to
the party was that Ol Mr.. James St.tsOn,
of Massachusetts,. who Is largely interested
in shipping cattle to the Liverpool markets
His son. who has recently returned from
those markets, will leave in a short time
with another vcs-cl-lOad of beeves Through
the courtesy of Mr.. Sretson learned few
facts which may be of interest to your many
readers. The cast OF transportation Is
reckoned by the head, for cattle. without
reference to weight, the prices ranging
from 3! to pounds in gold per head, from
Boston to Liverpool. From 400 to 500 head
L 4.
existing in these markets against the mouse
or light Aiderney colJred cattle. for beeves.
Cattle showing a strong Durham cross meet
with the most ready sales. A few facts
CLEANED from my visit to the various farms
owned by Mr.. Smith may not provo IN
interesting. The first is known as the
Wheeler farm and Is situated about Eve
miles east OF Iergennes, in the wealthy
town of New Haven. This farm. in connec-
ton with the Eaton farm, adjoining,
which has been added to it, comprises
something over 81 $50 acres, and is divided
into meadow, pasture and timber lands.
On the western side OF this farm lies
several hundred acres of fertile meadows,
through which runs q brook OF clear water,
ted by mountain springs. Here We
found one hundred head of three-year- old
steers. which for size, symmetry and quality
of beef, are probably not surpassed by any
similar number on any farm in Vermont.
Careful judges estimate the whole lot alter
delivery in Boston. to dress 500 to $50 pounds
average per head. They are evidently cross
ed largely with the Durham strain art
small boned, short legged and excellent
beef. Mr. Smith seemed to take an honest
farmers pride in listening to the merited
encomiums bestowed on thee by the ex
perienced stock-raIsers present. Eastward
from these meadows lies Il pasture range |
composed of hills and valleys, supplied
with numerous springs of pure water and q
luIurant growth of feed. seeming to be per
fectly adapted to the use desired Passing |
north n mile or so, we come upon another |
pasture range of equal fertility. and on this
were some 200 head OF selected twO-year-old |
steers. These possessed the same sdmixture |
of Durham in their breeding. They will !
be wintered' and " turned of F" in the |
Spring and Fall following. Ga this farm |
are five tenant houses, with barns and |
outbuildines. private pond well stocked
with fish lies hid in tho mountain about
one-half mile from the main road. The |
farm also includes fifty acres of cedars. |
which prove very valuable Tor fencing |
purposes. From here VIC drove in an
easterly direction some !our miles to the
''Biers" farm. This lies in a fertile valley in
tue tOWU Vi hDDklOn, anu tOnSiSlS VI Jtu
acres of meadow and pasture. 1t has a
handsome sugar orchard OF some 800 trees
plenty of timber for fuel and building pur-
POSES. fine fruit orchard, and several
barns. one o; them 40 feet long with two
wings 30 and 40 feet respectively. Inside
this barn are stanchi0ns Tor - head OF cat.
tie, with cellar underneath to shelter the
manure. while overhead IL ample room for
storing hay sufficient to last through the en-
tire winter This farm is under the man
agenent oil Mr. Smiths eldest son, Charles
Smith. Esq, who has l6 head OF grade
cows. o superior lot, selected for their milk
ing qualities A noticeable feature OF this
dairy IL, that among so many, there are no
old cows, their ages ranging from two to
seven years. The sales of butter, this sea-
son. have averaged % cents per pound.
Cold spring water Is carried through pipes |
to all needed places in the dairy rooms. The |
setting milk. Some idea of the fertility Of |
the soil can be formed from the fact that the
first year after purchasing this farm, there
was raised on three and hall acres 800 |
bushels of potatoes of the Early Rose, Peach |
Blow and No . varieties.
Tbs gross sales from these farms in SIN |
gle year amount from $4,000 to Sl2 900. |
The sale of the 100 head OF 3-ycar-olds be- |
fore mentioned was made to the leading |
cattle dealer in this county, I. Shackett, |
Esq. The price is understood to be about
S55 per head, amounting TO the snug little |
sum of s. 500. j. T.