Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1878-07-03
Letter from Rev. }. Copeland.

WEBSTER, N. Y, June "a, 1878
Mos1S Editors We are having the most co.
pious rain that we have had in this section for
several months II was becoming quite dry. The
wells and streams were low, and the water In
lake Ontario was two feet lower than 1t was last
year at this time Farmers were saying that we
needed rain very much. But last Friday night II
began TO rain, and with sght interruptions 1t has
rained ever since The very warm weather in
April gave vegetation an early start, at least n
month earlier than usual, and there was the prom.
Use Of remarkably early season, but frosts came
in May that cut down all the early spring crops,
and set us back to about the average Of our sea-
sons. Potatoes and corn in most cases were cut
down close to the ground, though not killed.
This town grows strawberries for the market
to n very large extent The early berries were
very much injured in some cases destroyed
but the later varieties came on in abundance
no that the market Is amply supplied. We are
now in the midst OF the season. Some of the
growers have gathered IA many "A five hundred
quarts at single picking. They obtained at first
twenty cents quart for them, and the price has
been falling, till they now obtain but five cents
They pay for picking two cents. There will be a
large crop Of raspberries-b acltcaps they call
them here. Then will follow the blackberres
The prices this season are much better than last
Apples will be abundant, peaches scarce, other
kinds OF fruit in only limited quantities Large
amounts Of nursery stock are raised In town and
immense quantities have been sold this season,
but ut a lower price than ever before The nur-
serymen all say there Ia now no money In the
business, but they have the stock on hand and
must dispose Of II, hence have turned II off at
what they could obtain. The best Of apple troes
have been sold a about three dollars per hundred,
and other stock at similar rates Some nurseries
have been stripped and the stock burned
There has been OF late much complaint about
wheat turning yellow and decaying near the roots,
but in spite OF this and all other drawbacks wheat
In this section promises to yield more than the
average crop. We have had to fight potato bugs
sharply, but in most cases have the better Of
them, and the crop looks finely A singular fact
was noticed on the lake shore in the spring. The
bugs could be gathered there by the bushel.
Where they came from no one knows-some say
from Canada-but one thing is certain, they can
live in water as well as on land.
There ia vast amount OF building and improve
ment OF home premises all about us. All kinds
of building material, as well rs labor are very
cheap, and these are the inducements to those
that are able to improve. Times are still close
and money hard to obtain, but there has been
manifest improvement since spring opened.
How hard it is to persuade or force men who
are engaged in the liquor traffic to comply with
the demands Of the people or the requirements OF
the law. After long and severe struggle we
have reached the mark granting no license in
this town, but it is currently reported that our
hotel keeper sells crackers at ten cents apiece and
gives away glass of liquor. lie will soon find
hard work in following that line of business As
an illustration of the magnitude Of the beer bust
ness in this part Of the country one of the brew
ers in Rochester boosted the other day that his
regular income was two hundred and sixty-three
dollars per dav. Ills establishment is only one
Of several large ones in that city new COM
pany has just been formed for the manufacture
Of the beverage, and it has paid S75,500 for the
site 10 locate the beverage on Are the people all
turning topers?
Your excellent paper keeps us well posted in
Vermont matters, and you may be assured it
never fails Of finding interested readers in our
hOuae Il n