Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1878-03-13

River Valley, we think. and probably we
have only lust begun TO learn what may Dc
done by iudicious use Of concentrated ma
nures. 1t is poor economy. however, 10
purchase nitrogen, phosphorlc acid or am
monia at high price, and throw away OF
allow to run to waste abundant supplies OF
these same elements already upon our
farms.
Probably no farmer Utilities all the ele-
ments of fertility to be found on his farm,
but those who approach nearest to 1t
achieve the greatest success as rule, ana
think am safe in saying that vast ma-
iority of farmers do not save half the ma
nure prod uced upon their farms. 1t is as
serted upon good authority that the liquid
part of the eXcrements of our domestic ami
mails is worth ut least as much as the solld
and some place its value much higher; but
how few save any considerable portion OF
it. Again, how often is the solid portion
thrown out to have good part OF its solu-
BILE elements washed out by the storms,
leaving comparatively useless residue.
A barn cellar is almost Indispensable to
the saving of manure, and shelter OF
some kind for the manure heap is quite so.
And in any case we need an abundant sup
plv of absorbents Anything that is dry,
porous and fine enough TO be easily handled
will be found of service, but some absorb
ents are fertilizers in themselves. Muck,
earth or leaves, if dry, are all valuable.
Dry sawdust answers very good purpose,
and by liberal use of it COWS may be Kept
as clean in the stable as in the pasture. but
most kinds no not possess any great fertl-
lizing power in themselves.
A Young man of some eighteen years,
who has been his fathers main help IN
cultivating an eighty acre farm, said to me
a year or two since: " Our principal bust
ness this summer has been the saving OF
manure" One item of this " business
was to supply bedding for six or eight
calves that were kept under n shed during
the entire summer. Early in the season
sawdust was used daily in sufficient guam
titles to absorb the liquids and keep the
calves dry, and later dry earth, leaves or
ANYTHING that could be obtained most read
ily. In the fall some twenty-five or thirty
one horse loads of manure were drawn
from this shed. l have told this as SAM
pie of the care used in saving the manure
from all the stock kept on the farm. 1t
will not, therefore, surprise you when L
say that the production of this farm has
nearly doubled in the last ten or twelve
years, OF that fifteen hundred pounds OF
butter were made one year from six cows.
Another important thing to be consider
ed on many farms, is-the draining and
improving of wet lands. When properly
managed worthless swamp often be-
comes the best land, for grass, upon the
farm, and such an improvement adds won
derfully to the amount of its productions.
Sometimes simple open ditch to cut of
springs that come down from higher
ground, is all that is required, but this
ought to be cleared out yearly, and in most
cases an underdrain OF some kind is the
best and cheapest in the end,
, Where tile can be readily obtained, no
doubt they are the best material, but hem
lock timber in many places forms cheap
and tolerably effective substitute. | have
some three or four acres of land under
drained with hemlock tubing, mostly. the
{ bitches two rods apart, and although l
have made some mistakes the operation
has proved very satisfactory one to me.
Still another element of success in farm
ing is in keeping improved stock and car
ing well for it, The difference between
herds of inferior COWS which may be found
in almost every town, and some of the best
Jersey dairies is all the difference between
failure and success and whatever kind OF
} stock we keep it pays to have only tina,
which is good; not necessarily thorough
! bred, for that is beyond the means OF
: many. There is no animal upon the farm
that shows this more plainly than swine,
and believe that it could be proved that
the difference in the amount of pork which
bushel of corn will produce fed to II hog
, of some one of the small boned breeds, OF
to one of the long nosed, slab sided race OF
rather racers, which unhappily, is not YET
J extinct even in Vermont, is us great as
} three to one.
| But we have not time to speak further
= of particulars and may sum all up by say
ing that we need to understand the princi
l piles of farming better and to apply to ii
more well directed labor. And in conclu-
sion would say, we need more love fol
our vocation. Too many of us have be-
: come farmers, not because we really pre-
ferred that calling TO any other, but be-
cause circumstances have forced us into it,
and did we know Of any other God means
of obtaining livelihood we would aban.
don it now.
No man ever yet achieved any great
success in II science or art which he did not
love. 1t was this that made Calico and
: Newton so distinguished in astronomy
Audubon so O. Eat II naturalist, and our
own Powers and Mead such noted sculp-
tors, Our greatest men in law, medicine
or divinity. yes, and our best merchants
and mechanics have been those in love
: with their profession and if we had more
: farmers who would give themselves to the
pursuit of their calling with something Of
the enthusiasm manifested by many in
) other occupations we should have many
more examples of successful farmanl.