The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1878-02-15

crngs and conventions to discuss the
best methods uf cultivation, and the
best manner of pursuing their calling
One great draw back upon farming in
Vermont Is the lack of proper capital to
fully develop the resources other land.
lie hoped The farmers present would
appreciate their opportunities, aud
profit by their Attendance at these meet
ings.
Ancr Mr.. Wnlbidgc's address Mr..
a. Chapman. If llc Board, read pm
per upon "Nhni /, the most profitable
size. Alrr Mr. Chapman read his
paper II discussion arose upon the sub
ject, that wa. participated in by "A large
number, ihc most of whom were of the
opinion that more concentrated special
farming Than is generally practiccd in
Vermont is more desirable, and much
more profitable After the discussion,
Mr.. Chase, of West Concord, made an
address upon, the "Condition of Con-
cord Farming" While many farmers
in Concord are farming intelligently,
and improving their farms, farming is
generally dcteriorating. Some are i'm
proving, some are buying fertilizers,
and very few are engaged in small
way in special farming. A few are i'm
proving their cattle, but he feared that
many were not properly approaching
the value of their wood lands, and were
not properly preserving them. Sugar
making was Of Il good deal of impor-
lance, but he feared that proper prccau-
tons were not taken 10 properly pre-
serve and perpctuatc the sugar orchards
in Concord. On the whole, he would
say that he feared the condition of
farming in Concord was not improving.
After this address there was discus
sion upon the subjects named in It. The
subject of applying ashes to sugar maple
orchards was introduced, and instances
were named where their application to
n few trees had increased the Yield of
sugar. MIR. jameson related three in
stances where special farming had pro-
duccd most satisfactory and profitable
results without any stock to make man
ure, only commercial fertilizers being
used. With these systems there had
been Il great improvement in the land
on which it had been practiccd. The
subject of raising potatoes was intro
duccd and discussed, the opinion gen.
orally being that more profitable results
could be obtained by planting in the
drill with small quantity of seed than
in the hill.
Thursday evening the meeting was
called to order by Mr.. Walbridgc, the
chairman, who introduced Secretary
Adams, of the New Hampshire Board
of Agriculture, who said about five
years ago the New Hampshire Board
found that three times The amount of
corn that was raised was purchased, and
the members determined to press the
matter of corn raising until New lamp
shire produced its own corn. In the
year of 1877 the state has raised three
million bushels of corn, whilo two mil
lions of corn and meal were purchased.
Corn can be raised throughout the en-
tire length and breadth Of New lIamp-
shire and Vermont. TO raise corn sue
cesstully we must take land that j. suit
able, or made so by proper preparation
or cultivation. We are too much in
clined to try to raise crops by expend-
ing too little labor upon the land to fit
it before we SOW or plant the seed AZ
ter We have properly fitted the land, we
should use some special fertilizer
Good seed should be selected, as not
every ear of corn is fit for seed. DR..
Stnrtevant's experiments in selecting
and improving seed corn has produced
wonderful results, and as he has done
others can do, by care and selection, if
they set themselves aboutit. The plant
ing shonld be done Nv planter, and
the hoeing should be done by horse
power. la this way the planting and
hoeing can be done for three dollars
per acre. MIR. Sanborn has been able
TO plant and cultivate land on the New
Hampshire state farm at cost Of two
dollars per acre. The distance apart
that the corn should be planted must be
varied according to location and varie-
ty. Where the small cight-rowed yari-
ETY. is raiscd-which is the most protita-
bic kind-thrcc feet between the rows
and two feet between the hills is the
best distance. Root pruning is now
generally thought to be profitable. TO
do this, take an old casc-knifc, and cut
around the hills. The New Hampshire
average of corn per acre is iorty-two
bushels. John Brown raised one hun
dred and thirty-siX bushels, but took il
when very green, and shelled two BUSH
els, estimating the rest. After it had
been cured properly, he probably raised
n little over hundred bushels. Fiily
bushels is Il good and profitable crop.
Corn should be cut early, or as soon as
il begins to glaze il should be properly
stocked ad cured, so as not to
mould and spoil. After the corn is
huskcd, If the stalks are packed away
III NOW, they will heat and mould
little: the outside of the stalks will
soften so that cattle will cat much bet
ter tEan when they are dried very hard.
After Mr.. Adams address, Dir. Cut
ting, of Luncnburgh, was introduced,
who delivered most interesting adj
dress upon parasitic Fungi" with
drawings Of the different fungi that IN
fest plants, wood, and the different
kinds of food we cat.
Friday morning the meeting was cal
led to order by the President, j. II.
Walbridge, Esq. Mr.. Ora Pau, of the
Board, Tread a paper upon "More Man
urc and better Application" After this
paper was read, a discussion followed
upon the subject, that was participated
in by many present, some advocating
applying manures on the surface and
narrowing it in, and some blowing ii
In. Those who advocated surface man
ureing or top-dressing practiced apply
ing it in late summer or fall, while those
who opposed it were generally in the
habit of top-drcssing in the spring.
Flowing in green crops for manuring
was introduced, and some examples re.
lated by Mr.. Paul where it had proved
of great service in recuperating worn
out lands.
After This discussion, Mr.. j. u. Bar
ron, of West Concord, read paper
upon Tree Culture" which was u very
practical conmon-sense paper. relating
The experience gained by practical cul-
iivniion Of trees.
After II discussion, Mr.. j. IL. Mead,
Of the Board, read paper upon
"Grass."
Friday afternoon the meeting was
called TO order by Mr.. Walbridge, the
chairman. A discussion followed upon
stocking land, opened by j. IL. Mead,
In. kls1taa Ii