Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1882-02-22
Farmers, Meeting at POWnal.

Inc meeting OF tue DOaru vi agriculture
for this place was to have been held on
Wednesday, and yet a misrepresentation of
the advertisement led Mr.. A. G. Parker to
change the notices and only hold meetings
on Thursday. The members of the board
present were-Secretary Cutting, Davis.
Pember and Towle. The meeting was
organized by the choice of +. ]. Pettibone,
Esq, as chairman, and f. r. Towle gave
his lecture upon Renovation of Pastures"
He remarked that it was grave neglect
of Vermont farmers to allow their pastures
to grow up with brush and brake, until
they would keep but small portion of the
stock they should. If pastures are smooth
enough to plow they may BIO kept up for
culture couple of years, MANFRED and
seeded down and thus kept in z )od condi-
ton; if otherwise they should be (ertilized
with ashes, superphosphate or other fertil-
izar that is needed, and thus kept in good
condition for the production of feed. Would
advise a mixed grass for pastures as herds
grass, clover and red top; also under IA
vorable conditions orchard grass, and
white clover unless it should work in itself,
which is quite usual for it to do
This was an ablo address, destined to do
good to the farmer who heed.
At the conclusion of Mr.. Towle's address,
Mr.. Dvais followed with profitable dis
cussion of the subject under consideration.
He stated that from necessity the original
settlers of this state commenced on the
higher portions of land. After the lapse
of years tho condition of soil and climate
have appeared to become considerably
changed, and the valleys are the most
valuable for agricultural purposes. Some
of our Vermont hills, perhaps formerly
productive, are now greatly deteriorated,
and it is question with him If it would
not be better TO encourage growth OF
wood and pay more attention to the i'm
Iprovement of the more valuable portions
of the farm; sometimes change from
COWS to sheep OF the reverse may be highly
advantageous and should be practiced. He
advised farmers to experiment to some ex.
tent for themselves, in order to find what
elements are mostly deficient in their soils.
Try potash, superphosphate, plaster sepa-
rately and in combination, and much in
formation will be gained and expense
saved in applying the kinds of fertilizers
that are most needed. If farmer has
plenty of barnyard manure there will be
little difficulty in making great improve
ment.
From inquiry by the secretary it was
found that not many pastures in the vicin-
ity are infested with brakes. The chair
man has destroyed them by blowing. A
farmer has moved them 10 some extent
with little apparent benefit, but probably
the work was not persistently followed up,
as one cutting may appear to do little
good, while three or four times in season
would soon result in their destruction.
After the brakes are got rid of grass seed
should be sown. In moving fields where.
ever the ground is bare or the grass thin
more seed should be sown, every year if
necessary This will apply principally to
clover and timothy, as red top does not
run out as quickly as the other kinds. On
billy pastures where it is difficult to get
manure would apply special fertilizers.
These will almost always be potash and the
superphosphates. He urged sowing a
sufficient quantity of grass seeds in our
pastures rs of the greatest Importance.
In reply to an inquiry Dr. Cutting stated
that his practice is TO SOW grass seed both
on meadow and pasture In August. II
brakes abound cut them down as they are
altogether out of place there. Deprecated
the practice of excessive manuring as in.
furious in immediate crops.and advised an
Improvement in this direction. He would
apply small quantity at time, and every
year instead OF waiting until the grass is
greatly reduced in yield and then put on
an excessive amount. The idea should
rather be to keep up maximum yield
from year to year by iudicious treatment
Upon inquiry by the secretary as to the
amount of grain raised per acre 1t was
said that 10 bushels of oats per acre is
considered an average yield in this part Of
the state and about 100 bushels ofpotatoes.
The recommendation to make plat expert