Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1878-04-26
II Can Duy II Cheaper than Can
Raise IT,
From Maine Correspondent Of the New England
TArmerl

From Maine Correspondent Of the New England
FArmerl
Thus said n farmer and the owner of
good farm, as | met him with a load of West
crn corn. How is it, Mr. Editor. is that so
Is it true of New England farmers, generally?
Perhaps if we reckon rent interest our own
labor. use of tools, teams. board and every
thing that enters into the operation, the up
pdreHt balance will be upon the wrong side
of the ledger. But we must bear in mind
that we already have the farm, the team, and
the tools and that we and our families must
live whether we work or not that taxes must
be paid and interest will accumulate and any
of us will feel better next harvest with n hun
bred bushels of corn, even though it cost
more than it will sell for, than with nothing.
especially if we have no money to buy with.
1t is astonishing how ready n great many
farmers are to invest in anything that pTOIq-
Uses something far nothing. A friend has had
big offer for a colt that is threatened with
speed, and at once the idea is conceived of
raising II thousand dollar colt. Fubbing
around on couple Of acres of corn all sum
mer to harvest fifty or Il hundred bushels in
the fall looks like small business. Wedding
sugar beets and Swedes in the hot sun of Ju-
ly and August is not congenial to our tastes,
especially as we see our neighbor pass and re-
pass with trotting gig or sulky and high
NAtpHlb w.t. NlllNlis III lLt tSllllldlOI VI lllt
owner is destined to eclipse the Smugglers
and DeXters of worldwide renown, (but
which, in reality, would be dear at the price
of Jersey heifer,) and we begin to debate
the question so often asked Does farming
pay and the answer is usually dictated by
the wish, and farming is voted failure
while the man who goes straight ON in his
chosen life work, and, with full trust in the
blessing of Providence and abiding confidence
tl,a s,F 4
perseveringly prosecutes his labors not risk
ing all upon a single toss but making it his
objective point to render himself so far as
may be. Independent of others. having in his
minds eye a crib of corn, Il bin of wheat a
cellar filled with fruit, roots and vegetables,
some nice porkers and Jars of golden butter
to pay taxes and help and last, but not least,
big compost heap by which to repeat the
process next year, will be found almost invar-
iably not only above want. but with some
thing over for a rainy day.
Seed time is just upon us and upon the
manner in which we improve it will depend
the fullness or the leanness of the harvest.
But about that crop of corn. Let me tell you
how ] am to proceed the coming season. The
ground was broken last fall, the dressing
from the barn cellar drawn out and dumped
III a long pile beside the piece. Some two
weeks before planting l shall plough the pile
uOWn, anu lnen put the manure from the pens
where the hogs were fattened last fall, and
that made by the sheep this winter on the top
of it. and fork it all over twice. and break all
the Jumps and mix in what plaster intend
for the corn. The hog and sheep manure
will cause the whole to heat Just enough to
make 1t fine, and at planting time it will be
found in just the right state to give the corn
good send off, and the good coat of long ma
nure from the cellar, which we are to spread
and cultivate in, will furnish stimulant for
the home stretch. l shall put in a few pump
kins for the reason that | want them and
don't know of any other way to grow them.
/ shall put no beans with it. Last season, my
corn fodder, beans and pumpkins from three
acres of corn paid the whole cost of cultiva-
ton and something over, leaving me one hun
dred and fifty bushels of corn for little less
than nothing, which is certainly rs cheap as
it can be procured from Kansas But consid-
ering the extra labor of dropping, pulling.
stacking and picking the beans, and the prob
able less amount of corn received, | think
there is ut present prices, no money in rails
ing beans for sale. had twenty-five bushels
of pea beans. and the straw from them was
worth more than a ton of the best hay, and
ten ox-loads of pumpkins is an item worth
taking into account.
Mr.. Editor, please allow me TO advise my
brother farmers that it is high time we let
alone the miserable make-shifts to which SO
many resort for a temporary relief, and begin
in sober earnest to look to our farms for liv.
ing.