Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1878-07-10
Vermont Farms.
FARM OF GENERAL W. W. CIRCUIT.

General w. w. Grout, of Barton, while
practicing law, still allows his attention to
be so divided that he directs in the manage
ment of the old homestead farm in Kirby,
of three hundred and thirty acres. This
farm is in charge of Capt Ford, whose hos
pitality enjoyed while attending the Board
of Agriculture meeting at West Concord.
This farm rises from the river gradually
toward the north. The lower portions, aud
well up on the hill sides, are devoted to cul-
tivation, while higher up there are excellent
pastures. From these fields one hundred
tons of hay are gathered. The highway
divides the farm just above the lower edge
of the hill, and here in the winter season
the wealth and attractions of the farm are
to be seen.
During the past summer the farm barns
have been remodeled. A new barn, fifty by
one hundred and twenty feet, with posts
twenty feet, stands over basement eight
feet deep. There is also building twenty
six by thirty feet on the end toward the road
to cover the rising approach over which the
hay is drawn to get it on to the barn floor
ten feet above the basement. At the left
of the large doors there is an entrance to
the carriage room and horse stable, upon
the same floor as the COW stable. These are
roomy and convenient. This high floor
makes unloading hay quite easy. The bays
on the right hand are ten feet deep below
the floor. Under the floors and left hand
bays is the COW stable, one hundred feet
long, with stalls for twenty-seven cattle in
one row. The partitions between the stalls
reach back as far as the animals shoulders
the cattle are tied with chains. The drop
back of the cattle is eight inches, and the
platform upon which they stand is level.
More room is required for cattle when chains
are used than with stanchions. Several
| COWS were standing back with their hind
feet in the trench eight inches lower than
their forward ones. Chains give the most
freedom to cattle, and with that freedom
they must have more room in length and
width, and are not as easily kept clean.
The stock is Ayrshire and Shorthorn grades
and among them are some very good mixers
| The AYRSHIRE stock bull and mate stand al
one end of the row, and are used in the heavy
work of the farm. Back of the cows there
is room to pile sawdust or muck for bed
ding. In front is the feeding alley and q
row of box-stalls for cows or calves. In the
cellar we find another stable with twenty
three head of young cattle. The feed is
thrown down from the deep bay above
through a spout that serves for ventilation
to the cellar. The manure is thrown int
the part under the constable. Among
these young cattle we find more trace o.
Ayrshire blood. OF full bloods in all Their,
are four cows two heifers and two bulls
The basement is in part made of heav,
split granite, well laid. The floor under thu
manure and hog-pen is made of flat stone
well cemented, so the liquid portions of thu
manure are retained. The barn is quit
thoroughly built and is painted brown.
Along the south side of the barn-yard ar
sheds for colts, of which there are eleven
representing the blood of John Morrill,, Tat
tersall and Len Rogers The colts live in box
stalls and are also let out into the large var
every day. From the breeding it is right +
expect these colts will be good roadsters.
In the management of the farm the gras
, crop has been the object. A few acres hav
been plowed and cropped, with the view O
J a speedy return to grass, with a greatly il
creased yield Top-dressing is also practice
TO increase the grass crop.
Captain Ford designs to raise more cor
and other grains, so as to make the farr
self-sustaining in a greater degree.
Just now there is being tested the valu
of the soil under stables where several oil
barns were torn down orremoved during tn
: past summer, rendering accessible the so
: upon which the draining Of the COW stab
. has fallen for half century. Some Of TIL
q earth has been already spread upon gras
| should expect it TO be rich in nitrogen
u phosphorus and all mineral elements {
e plant food. All the operations of the far
will receive new impetus from the ne
p barn. Fertilizers will be saved and mol
judicously applied. Stock will receive be
ter care and give better returns. The larl
n crops can be more rapidly stored and mo-
"a safely kept.
With this higher farming, fields will
y improved by draining, leveling banks, 7
u moving stones and thorough cultivation.
y We can earnestly hope that with the ca
o ital employed, 1t will be found that farmir
"a pays both in enjoyment and in money.
u. Il. JAMESON.
)r NOTE BY THE EDITOR.--We are We
IL much interested to hear the result Of the a
. plication of the earth from beneath the O
barns. Theoretically il should be worth
3, much as the best artificial fertilizer for ty
or three feet down under where the animi
ii stood. An old farm hand lately ga
=, TO us that he never believed in top-dressil
:" until he saw some dirt from under an n