Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-05-25

season. but 1t was death to wheat and clover.
1t is well that all seasons are not alike
dry season like the two past are the most IA
vorable for the hill aud mountain farmers,
and wet seasons the most favorable for the
clay hay and pasture farmers In the valley.
An average of seasons Is generally equally
favorable to all classes OF farmers. Land is
moist but not wet, and l think is thus far
favorable for the sprouting of sowed grain.
Crops look finely for this season of the year
Bennington County.
Arlington-Thc season has been SO back
ward that nothing definite as tocrops eau be
given. Farmers are well along with their
work. A large acreage Of oats has been SOW
ed this Spring and they are mostly up. Lit
tie wheat and less rye than usual. Potatoes
are mostly planted. The high price of po-
tatoes has tempted the farmers to more ex-
tensive planting. About the usual amount OF
corn, but little as yet has been planted. Grass
never had u better loos
Benniagton-Th acreage of oats, barley
and potatoes exceeds that of last year, while
that of corn, wheat and beans IS about the
same. The present state OF the season Is
somewhat backward and cold, although the
prospect is good for average crops Fruits
aud grass promises well. The crops in Ben
niglon county vary, in acreage but little
from year to year.
Franklin County.
West Berkshire-Our principal crops are
lay, corn, potatoes, oats and wheat barley
and rye sown to some extent. The acreage
probably will not vary much from last year (;
possibly small increase in potatoes and
oats, as many farmers are improving their
pastures. The season is very backward, first
cold and dry, and now wet. Spring work
will not be finished until late 1t ia too early
yet to judge of the crops Grass LOOKS
well.
Geoygid-It is carly yet to form au esti-
mate of crops here. Grass is the leading
crop. Corn, oats, wheat, barley, rye, buck
wheat peas, beans, follow probably in the
order named, though perhaps not exactly.
None of these are to any considerable extent
market crops. Buckwheat, beans, barley
) and rye arc sold to some extent but mostly
consumed here. Potatoes have sometimes
been produced in considerable quantities for
market but there appears to have been fall
ing off IN this respect Of late. 1t is hardly
probable that there will be increased acreage
this year. AS to the acreage of other
crops as compared with last year. l have no
means of forming an opinion. Should think
there would be little if any variation, though
there is n complaint of scarcity of labor
which may possibly affect the acreage of hoed
| crops. 1t is unfortunate that in the tlllage
of such crops there is still too close aiher-
cnce to old methods, for most economical re-
suits. Our fields are too small, rows too
short, TO warrant the investment in appara-
tus necessary to the adoption OF general anl-
NAL and machine tillage.
The season is backward, but little work
having been done in our immediate vicinity,
though considerable seeding has been done
I on the sandy lands around us. Grass seems
. TO have wintered well and is starting slow
~, though but little stock has been
/ turned away to pasture. There has been an
abundance of fodder, and stock is generally
a in good condition. In the matter of winter
a ing stock there has been marked improve
ment in few years. "Spring poor in the
c sense in which it was once used is an un-
known term. Our fruit men do not seem 10
e apprehend the total failure of the crop by
:, reason of the severity of the Winter as dc
e their brethren of the West. The maple sug-
:, ar crop was to considerable extent a failure
y though some makers who followed the sea.
son up to its close and tapped over thcii
trees and scalded up their buckets from time
: to time made considerable ; not nearly full
+ crop, however, in the most favored cases.
: Orleans County.
= Barton-Oats, barley and rye will b'
:, raised to about the usual amount. Our farm
u =. ers are sowing more wheat than usual ant
, lrhe corn crop will be larger, especially of en-
:, silage corn. The weather is good for work
but cold, and planting is backward. Grass
J. looks fair.
q IraS5urgh-On basis OF 100 for an aver
v age Of the past five years the area to clcl
n crop will be: Potatoes, 100; oats, 100
~ wheat, no; barley, 100; corn, 100; indica
ir tons for clover, no. timothy or herds grass
q 105; pasture, 100 No Winter grain gener
IL ally grown. Apple trees wintered well. o
ye account of the even and continuous GOVERN
10 of snow the prospect of a hay crop is good
or Very little grass winter killed. Stock goes t
re pasture in average good condition.
Washington Couniy.
Waterbu,y-Grass averages better than u!
ual at this time Of the year. The large bod
ct Of snow kept the ground from freezing !
OF the Winter and left the grass in good cond
in ton this Spring throughout Washingto
ed county. The acreage of oats and potatot
all about the same as last year.
se North ftid-The dairy interest takes tn
lat lead through this section and .ropsare grow
to with reference to that as general thing
'rc The leading crops aside from hay are col
d. and potatoes. 1t is too early yet to tell IL
lst average, but think that of potatoes will |
he about the same as last year, with an increa'
Ia Of corn. Quite an area will be sown to ba
asst ley, which is much liked as fuel. With q
increase of acreage in barley is correspon,
MS ing decrease in oats. Quite an area will
'ut devoted to wheat, the average of which
or increasing from year to year. There will pro
)m ably be more acres in cultivated crops thu
to- last year. The largely increased use of cor
en- mercial fertilizers is in a manner revolutio
ore izng our systems Of farming, as believe,
ere the great advantage of the farmers of Il
or State. OF crop prospects 1t Is yet too ear
las to speak, except as to grass which looks W,
it but is backward on account of the cold d
ow weather.
.nyS Windham County.
is, Belioos Falls-Farmers here are col
nty mencing to plough for planting corn. So
in ing is done and potatoes planted. Grt
tile looks finely also winter rye, though the ac
!. age of rye is always small here. The al
zen of tobacco has dwindled almost out. ii
the seems to be plenty though it brings go
Mi. price-$l6 at the barn. Cattle have gone
i'm lhc pastures mostly. Gardens are fast bel
son planted The soil never was in better til
unit Seeds would readily terminate if we w
,rb. not afraid of frosts. An effort will be ms
Hat to increase the acreage of corn. The LEI
YER. ing crops are grass, corn and oats. The s
ink son here is about an average and would
and forward but for that extra deposit of sn
the north which brings along cold winds. I
the Connecticut runs smoothly as ever '
mer known, keeping well up as il the mother 81
few ply was inexha ustible.
G in w,na.or Co..,x
oats
ever Hartland-Grass is our leading CROP
i'm has come through the Winter in fine col
t Of ton, and although backward, gives at
fail. writing promise Of making a thick sta
inter- Corn is more largely titled than any OF
cts cereal. Due preparation OF the ground
the been made, but The cold backward col
and tion ~ tho sooeor d.Ioyo onara,iono Col,