Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1882-02-08
Board OF Agriculture.


Two very successful and valuable meetings of
the board have been held in this county during
the past week, at North Montpelier on Tuesday
and Wednesday, January 3lst and February 1st
and at Barre, Thursday and Friday, February
I'd and Sd.
AT NORTH MONTPELIER.
Rev L. C. Morse, who presided, opened the dis
CUSTOM taking as his topic General Farming"
in which he urged the selection of a farm with
view to the particular branch of industry to be
pursued As his views in general have been re-
peatedly urged by us, we give no extended report
of his remarks. +. X. Towle read a paper on
Mixed Farming" followed by E. NJ. Goodwin
who spoke of the value of experiments to the
farmer and the Importance OF adapting the pro-
ducts OF the farm to the demands OF the market
Discussion arose as to the profit Of feeding bran
and grain to mich cows, and it was generally
agreed that it did pay, though there might be ex-
ceptonal cases. Mr.. HOLSTER expressed the
opinion, with which Mr.. Goodwin concurred that
Vermont corn was worth ten per cent more for
feeding purposes than western or southern. Mr.
Davis urged the farmers to try more experiments
in farming, apropos to which Mr. HOLSTER stated
that it is a fact that in North Montpelier on one
side of a stream ashes sown on grass land pro-
duce remarkable results while on the opposite
side they do not appear to have any value.
The board met again at two in the afternoon
Hon. Albert Dwinell in the chair Introductory
to an article on the subject Of silos," Mr. Good
win gave description of the :" Plat system of fer
tilization." Mr.. HOLSTER then read his paper on
silos, giving the result of his experience and OBJ
servation. His conclusion was that ensilage was
IN IL Al
proper kinds Of corn used, and knowledge ac-
quired as to the best and cheapest way OF raising
the corn. lie advises thick sowing of seed One
word about the building OF silos; great many
of our farmers have got the wrong impression
about building one. They think there is to be a
great outlay of time and money, and say they
cannot afford it, and who blames them after
reading of such ones as Governor Smiths and
the Moulton Brothers7 The less of such silos
built the better off the community will be, unless
1t is for those who get the work to do. good
plain, common-sense sio should be built in some
corner of your barn, under ground, for $780, that
will hold one hundred fifty tons II | had not
convenient place under my barn | would choose
the most convenient place in connection with my
stables, II they were in basement; II not, would
dig eight feet deep and as large needed; would
have 1t on dry land and build Of split granite II
cemented; II not, use common field stones lay in
plumb, with good face, point the wall with
cement and bring 1t 10 a true face; cement the
bottom, put a frame building top on your wall,
cover it with shingles, board outside with rough
| boards, inside with matched boards Make your
| building five OF six feet high, so as to be con-
venient to pass in and out Such a silo as this
| should not cost over $3.50 would not advise more
| than two owning the machine for cutting the fod-
der, as they may be liable TO want 1t at the same
| time The surest way is for every one to have
cutting arrangements of his own, and when
ready fill your silo. You will want seven men,
one pair of oxen and one horse. With that force
you can fill in thirty tons per day. Fill ~ rapidly
~ possible; be careful and begin as near the first
part OF the week you can, so as not to have to
wait over Sunday, as it will heat some II left over
two nights, When filled, cut straw to the depth
| Of four inches, then cover with one and one-half
inch plank, fitted tight at the ends; then load
with barrels filed with sand or stone, one hun
dred pounds to the square foot OF surface Do
not think heavy pressure Of SO much consequence
tight covering. To exclude the air is the great
secret of keeping ensilage, As to the value of
ensage, he gave 1t as his opinion that it is worth
|
gave statistics OF his operations in proof of it.
Mr., HOLSTERS paper was "a valuable one, rs II
was based upon his own experience, and was not
simply theoretical, lie WAS closely questioned
showing that much interest has been awakened
upon the subject among the farmers The secre
tary and Mr. Goodwin urged that grass be moi
dried too much before putting into the barn
The evening session was taken up by the read
ing by the secretary Of his paper, Plant food
and it, capabilities of taking food"
After the assembling of the audience at ten
o'clock, Wednesday, MIR. Towle read an inter
esting paper upon "Our pastures and how to fer
tllize them" After stating the fact that oul
pastures are declining he expressed the opinion
that two years Of cultivation is sufficient to bring
them into good state OF cultivation; would USE
commercial fertilizers in connection with stable
manure, in the proportion OF ten or twelve two
horse loads OF stable manure and two hundred
pounds Of superphosphate per acre, For seeding
would recommend a mixture, timothy, clover
and redtop. Often fields may be improved by
, narrowing and then using some fertilizer will
seed sown upon the field. lie finds a shift Of
stock, as sheep to cows, has been beneficial il
some instances. Some spots may be improved
by narrowing thoroughly, sowing on grass seed
aud II possible fertilizers, Good cultivation Il
needed, but tho fertilzing elements should mol