Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1878-09-04


1unty, Mass. is 10000 acres. Before
lanting these lands could be bought Tor
yenty five cents an acre. Since reclama-
on the same lands have been sold Tor
,urteen dollars an acre. Mr.. Northrop
escribed at length the experience OF sew
raj Cape Cad residents who have re.
laimed barrens about them. and referred
D the North Haven sand blow and his
uggestions for its reclamation. Worn
mt pasture lands can be reclaimed by tree
,lanting, and great deal of it has been
uclaimed in Scotland by planting the
arch. The speaker then referred to the
Ugh esteem in which the larch is held Tor
apidity of growth, symmetry OF form
nd durability.
The subject of reduced pasture lands
,nce cultivated was discussed by Mr..
,Ioseley of Springfield, by Mr.. j. j.
Webb of Hamden and Mr.. Tinkham oil
Vermont. The latter spoke of the con
extent of barren pastures IN his
,tate. These were planted to wheat once
rom fifty to seventy-five years ago, then
1nce to rye, and have been since pastured..
In his opinion Mr.. Northrop's method oil
was the only one of use In
these cases.
A discussion followed concerning the
planting of rye for retaining pastures, IN
which Mr.. Cheever of the NeW England
Farmer took part.
Colonel Yancey of Georgia spoke of
the efforts of Edwin Ruf1in in retaining
eastern Virginia and parts of Georgia by
sowing The COW pea-a leguminous plant
which grows rapidly with heavy foliage
and blowing it in as soon as il becomes
luxuriant. He advised an experiment
with the COW pea in the North.
Professor Brewer said 1t could not be
grown successfully anywhere north of Ma
son and Dixon's line except in Delaware
Colonel Yancey then spoke of grass
growing rs u remedy. and compared the
highly cultivated lands of the northern
states with the neglected lunds of the
south. This difference was in great
measure caused by grass growing. Forty
years ago he Lad been n law student in
this city, but he didn't know then much
about the farming lands, for he travele"
back and forth by steamer. Now he came
by rail, and saw that even the banks by
the side of the railroad tracks were cover
ed with grass. In Georgia they used lUO,-
900 tons of commercial fertilizers each
year, and each kind had to be examined
and stamped by the state chemist.
The meeting then adjourned.
WEDNESDAY MORNING SESSION.
The delegation from Vermont was in
creased by the arrival of Professor Seely
secretary of the State Board of Agricul
ture.
The congress was called to order a
10: 80, and listened to an eulogy on the
late president, Hon. Willard G. Flagg O
Illinois, by Hon. j. R. d ,dge, formerly
statistician of the agricultural department
at Washington. Mr.. Flagg's parents anc
his wife were natives of Vermont, whil'
he was born in Illinois Mr.. Flagg had
for many years stood prominent among
the eminent agrculturists of our country
and for several of the last years of his
life was engaged on an encyclopedia O
agriculture, and for many years was the
horticultural editor of the Pr1irie Farmer
His death is loss to the agricultural in
terest of the whole country.
Prof. s. w. Shattuck Of the Illinois uni
versity next read paper on Engineer
ing and Draining on the Farm. Mr.
Shattuck said he should take only one part
of the subject assigned him, viz, draining
His view of the subject must necessarily
be western one, but he believed it nigh
be applicable in II general way.
Standing water rs a general rule is al
enemy TO vegetation, and should be re
moved as soon as possible. While he nd
vocated tile drainage, he would not con
denim any other system, even surface
draining; but that, though better thar
nothing, wastes land, and often the mos
valuable portions of the land adjacent is
washed into the open drain, and is lost
There are in Illinois one million eighl
hundred thousand acres of swamp lands
which reclaimed would increase their val
ne forty millions of dollars. Mr.. Shat
tuck read reports of the effects secured b,
draining by various persons in different
parts of the country, showing increase in
production Of fifty per cent. He recon-
meuded three to three and half feet will
the mains four feet deep, rs the proper
dep h, and tile us the best material for
drainage. The following were the sizes
of tile he commended: for four acres
2-inch-3-inch for nine, etc. He ventures
to say that IL large per cent of western
farmers were idle nearly four months il
the year, and at time when they coul,
b. draining their lands, and that at goo'
profit. and if they would do it, and spen'
less time in discussing the financial situ'
ION and capital locked up in banks, an
use their capital in their business, it @oul
,e to their advantage. Tile could now b
purcha> ed at $l2 which formerly cost S2t
lie commended round tile, which shout
be round, and not oval, and the wall {
equal thickness. Illinois in 1876 mad
four millions of lie-in 1877 more ina
fourteen millions were made.
Mr.. Tinkham of Vermont hoped th
subject would not be allowed to drop wit
the excellent paper we had just heart
IN many of our farms in New Englan
there was large amount OF land whlc
was practically worthless by reason of y
water on it. Often this land lies near ii
farm buildings. and when reclaimed won
he the most valuable and productive of a
the farm, and give the best return for Ii
Dor and manure applied.
Mr.. Gennert of Maine gave an instant
where farm of thirteen hundred acre
which he had supposed to be dry. and b
friend said that the term draining
his instance was a misnemer; his lar
was dry enough he was Uentilating h
land so it could get the full benefit of Il
air under it, and in Germany farms we
: Systematically drained without regard
the amount of water on them.
} Mr.. Wetherell spoke in approval
, what Mr.. Gennert said, and Instance
drainage done by Mr.. Lawrence of Grolo
Mass, on lands which have been titled
J many years, and TO its manifest benefit.
) The next paper was by Prof. E. '
! IIillyard of California; relations
science to agriculture, and in his absencew
, read by Prof. Brewer. The great questi'
of the day was how to combine agricutu
al science and agricultural practice-no
+ to render available to farmers the resul
A of scientific research bearing upon tho
' pursuits. European experience possib
, points the way to what may be most su
t cessful in the United States; but the COP
: ing of any European agricultural schc
: would scarcely lead to similar results
this country. Professional education wi
n view to the pursuit of agriculture is
= very limited demand. The Massachuse
e agricultural college is in many respe,
t most like the European schools. and wi
that exception the institutions organic