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

Farmers Meeting at Bennington.
TUESDAY MORNING.
The meeting was called to order bg tho
of the board, Charles Z. Dew
ey. Esq. was elected chairman, aud L. ID. |
Esq, assistant.
The members of the board in attend |
ance were Gov. Roswell Farnham, DR.. u.
A. Cutting. Hon. E. r. Pember, NJ. W.
Davis ana E r. Towle.
The first address was by L. r. TOwle of
Franklin upon Renovation OF Pastures"
He spoke of the thriftless way in which
the farmer managed his pasture lands byt
taking off all his cattle could eat. and
never returning anything or even keeping
down the brush or weeds, but complaining
of their want of productiveness and using
il as an argument why farming was not
productive. A better way would be to
fertilize the pasture as well as the grass
land, and by feeding the cattle in the
morning let them carry back rs much rs
they took off at night. But as whole
he believed in using superphOsphate mixed
with yard manure, which could be put on
in the winter on sleds which could be
drawn any where when there was snow
enough. Such pastures as we're not need.
ed should be fenced out and grown up to
timber, as our timber supply will soon be
exhausted otherwise. His idea is smaller
and better past ures. with not only an in
crease of feed, but feed of better quality.
This excellent address was followed by
NJ. W. Davis of Westminster, who advo-
Gated the turning into woodland of all un-
profitable land and making what was titled
pay, either as pasture or meadow. Had
known instances where hogs had been
turned in with good effect, but was not a
friend to the hog. Believed our pastures
began to run down when we let the sheep
go, and that there was mistake.
DR.. II. A. Cutting of Lunenburgh fol.
lowed with some remarks upon pastures.
He said that it was careless neglect that
run them out; that there was not any
exhausted land in Vermont, and the cost
of making good pastures would not be
equal to clearing the land, az our fore
fathers did. But it meant thought and
work, and sitting round stores and hotels
would never do it.
First. it was necessary TO find out what
the pr sture needed by measuring off plats
of one.eighth acre each. and fertilizing
one With plaster, one with ashes, one with
superphosphate, and the others with mixed
fertilizers. The one found to be best was
the one to use, and TIL would usually be
superphosphate or potash. The amount
needed would not be large, and the capac
ity Of the pasture would be at once largely
increased.
As to brakes and bushes, use the scythe.
Crop them-not once year, but us often
as there was anything to crop. This, if
persisted in, would kill anything, because
no roots could live unless the foliage could
expand and take in the carbonic acid and
other vital food from the atmosphere. Man
could not live without breathing, neither
could the plant, aud its leaves were its
lungs. He believed that there was not an
acre of pasture land in Vermont which
could not be made to produce we'll at small
cost; and as was remarked, that it could
be purchased for from three TO five dollars
per acre, and he believed that every acre
could be made to pay for itself in even
one year 1t needed only action based
upon the story; the plant itself told of its
needs. and the plant in plat fertilization
never told lies
Meeting adjourned until 2 p NJ, to come
together in greatly increas d numbers.
AFTERNOON.
Meeting came TO order at T. NJ, and
NJ. w Davis of Westminster addressed
the audience upon Feeding and produc
ton of milk lie said the two greal
products of Vermont was of the sheep and
dairy industry and to succeed in either it
became necessary to use judgment in the
selection Of stock. In the selection of the
COW, which was in fact machine, she
should be selected with care and he would
have the COW have room enough for her
food and for her milk too The bag should
not hang down long with big teats, but
she should have an udder extending for
ward of good size and only medium teats.
Her milk veins should be large and prom
nent and the hair should from her bag,
extending even TO the top Of her body,
grow in the reverse direction, and the
wider this mark the better The cow. Next,
the cows should be assorted in herds that
have the same size cream globules, that the
cream may all rise at the same time and
the butter come even and of the best quail
ity ; while if unassorted thus, the quantity
as well as quality will not equal expecta
ton. But with right stock and feed too
and proper feeding, it will amount to sue
cess. But how do farmers feed? Many
in open barns, and only with winter fod
der, and then we expect more than we get
But we should have warm barns and ieet
with due economy, as shown by actual eX
periments and experience. and we shall
have not only satisfactory results but ever
better than we expected. lie likes clover
but clover should not be dried too much
For summer, he advocates soihng, anc
recommends winter rye for early crop anC
sweet corn for later crop, and feed cows il
the morning 50 they will 90 ont full t.
pasture, thus increasing the value of The
pasture and the worth OF the COW. He
believes in the silo and thinks they will b,
of great utility to the Vermont farmer. II,
would tic in stanchions 80 as to keep tn,
COW clean, and have warm Stables to pro
duce more milk, and give warm water
Should never send dogs or boys after cows
unless the boys were good, and dog
never. Cows of Vermont average 1875 lbs
of butter. The average should be 800 lbs
and over. The Jersey Queen of Barne
|, weighs 1850 pounds and makes "a
pounds of butter, but she is fed four quart
of bran, four quarts oatmeal, three quart
corn meal and what hay she needs. Ee,
twice day-and this year she is quit
sure of making 800 pounds and over.
} she does she is sold for $4,000. She ha
been sold within the year for $1,000.
A. P, Childs, Esq, spoke of farming Il
the business that shonld and he believe
would pay-and yet farmers that wante
to have it pay them should come out an
listen to the excellent addresses given Il
this meeting, as he believed them practices
and of great benefit. His remarks wer
appropriate and well received.
! Adjourned at p. NJ. until evening.
: EVENING SESSION.
Gov. Farnham was introduced by III
| chairman of the meeting and add esse
t the audience upon "The farmers homes i
/ Vermont" He remarked that he appea,
ed before the people of Bennington i
obedience to law, as by the law of the stat
g he was made member of tho Vermo,
board of agrieulture-and of coarse as sue
| he was expected to aid in their mcelino
| While he MIGHT not ha ahIa r., rooo,,,,n 80,