Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1880-10-13

were but two things that a farmer could
safely run in debt fOr-manure and feed.
Manure rightfully, used and shorts judi
ciously fed to stock would more than
double their cost the first year. He would
advise young man before buying a farm
unless he was thoroughly acquainted
with the management of one-to hire HIM
self to a good practical farmer until he
was. and the same with his wife, for he
never knew a farmer to meet with success
whose wife did not understand her part OF
the business. In the most of cases It is
the wife who brings us out victorious and
deserves most of the credit. What ar
tieularly wish to call your attention to is
this, that knowledge which costs little,
Joined with a small amount of money, will
derive larger profits from small acres OF
land than can be obtained from large
acres when the knowledge is wanting.
Thursday forenoon was taken up mainly
by the reading of paper upon dairying,
farming, etc, by Mr.. f d. Mason of
Richmond, Vt, president of the Vermont
dairymen's association Want of space
will admit of but few notes from his
paper. He said the farmer must be better
educated, for as he improved the farm
would improve also; but it could not be
done by hanging around the tavern and
grocery. Things should be made pleasant
at home; in the house and out of doors
did not believe in digging from sunrise to
sunset, and then growl all night, growl at
everybody and everything; must study
more and cultivate the brain, so as to let
that do part of the work, and make 1t
lighter for the hands; stop the leaks on
the farms, especially in liquid manures
by absorption with muck, sods, chips from
the wood shed, ashes, etc. cover up the
solid manure with sods or straw, if you
have no bedding for it. to keep it from
teaching. He said that it would not do to
buy fertilizers if they could be made at
home; that an increase of only one-iourtb
of the manure in Vermont would make IA
difference of three millions of dollars
The farmer must improve his cattle. The
present average was about one hundred
and twenty pounds of butter to cow,
which by careful management could easily
he raised to one hundred and sixty pounds.
making difference of twelve dollars to a
cow-quite an item when taken together.
He had doubts about feeding meal through
the summer, but would feed it fall and
wintcr-iked three bushels of oats with
one of corn ground together had never
tried feeding shorts, because he thought
farmers ought to raise all of their own
feed. He noticed that the pasturers
throughout the state were becoming filled
with weeds and brakes; did not believe
rood butter could be made of such stuff.
Thought farmers did not take enough in
terest in their clubs and meetings; should
dicsuss their matters themselves instead of
getting some heightened college professor
or lawyer to do it for them.
In the afternoon different topics were
discussed, among them the present listing
laws. Mr.. Mason thought the farmers
ought to talk the matter up and send men
to the Legislature who would do as they
agreed.
Dustin Kent, blacksmith of Grand
Isle, talked upon horse shoeng. He
exhibited four hoofs with shoes that he
had set, showing the manner of setting
shoes for different uses; showed how he
set shoe to prevent interfering; for
Lrotting, ETC.; he showed one that was
much worse than bad, which he claimed
was the way that farmers set their horse
shoes. No one knows better how TO set
horse shoe than Mr.. Kent, and if he would
always do one-balf Us we'll as he did on
his samples showed, there would not now
be so many farm blacksmiths in Grand
Isle.
In giving list of articles exhibited
have endeavored to notice everything,
and should anything be passed over can
only say that it was unintentional. There
were few lots of fruit and vegetables
Il u
he name of the exhibitor.