Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1883-10-03
" Can we Believe Them -

"Can we Believe Them 2,
AS a rule, perhaps, We may say that we
consider the teachings of our agricultural
writer's as reliable aud practicable, but
there are exceptic rs, and one should use
his judgment and cor mou sence in apply.
ing what he reaf IS to his own experience.
when man sends an article to prom
lnent hgricult' Irsq paper stating as fact
that MANY farmers do not strain their
cream men ESQ much dirty, filthy butter"
we oeliev thc first half Of his statement
because ~ know it to be true--reru many
farmers DO it not, there is no need but it
aoes At follow that they make dirty, filthy
outb ~ so we drop the whole article as
nnr eqiable, only inferriug that he has cream
Lf st is dirty and needs straining in order
O make clean o. butter, or in charity
judge that he never knew the sweets OF
making butter in country dairy, but had
been lunchiug ut n city restaurant on but
ter that had passed through the hands of
dealers and grocers. Or, when we hear
that the bad odor of some tainted milk
was caused BY the COWS eating corn that
WAS grown on phosphate, We may laugh
At the notion-call it far fetched and con-
i ue 10 use the odorous phosphates TO
make our corn grow. But this does not
reach the pith oil the question.
At farmers meeting paper on fTn.
ing topics was read by Mr.. A. Il was
received with doubtful looks by the farm
ers present, who knew he hal no farm
and was too lazy to work one, therefore,
his ideas did not carry The weight Of Il
straw in their minds as comrarrl with
those of a practical Observing farmer.
This is what one said of it, The time was
taken up with Mr.. AS paper which was
good enough in itself, perhaps, bu' Of no
benefit there. as nobody had any conf lence
il the mango tO0k nj his gp' den ard
barn." And II few years ago when apples
were very plenty we a'ke a friend if
ipples fed 10 cows were milk producing
and butter making fool, saying thu. such
writer (naming the MANI claimed that
bushel OF apples would make half "A pound
of butter. "Humph." said our friend, 'if
you should 60 TO his place and see how
things look you wouldn't quote him as
authority" Well, might visit him and
lind the gate off the hinges, and The pig
the dooryard, but would that really
affect his knowledge Of results of feeding
apples TO cows? If this is no proof
tg,inst what have we in favor? lSt. He
DOES raise apples as we found him rtporte'
rs winning The first Two pics a Beth !
fair for fail and winter varieties p. Olr
own experience in feeding apples To cur
native cows so greatly increased he Yield
# butter tha, we could believe his state
uent possible under very favorable cir
unstnnces. If he has tried his one hDn
and knoUS il TO BE- 50, he is ight in giving
u the benefi. of that knowledge even il
all Of his farming operations are no. ny
to the highest standard. You wou d not
refuse to eat an apple from thrifty hran' b
Of an apple tree, because there was deao
branch on the other side ofthe ree. f 'ch
farm is tree of many branches; they
may no, all be equally thrifty, bu, WHEN
we find one bearing fruit which we de-
sire and need let US appropriate it.
have in mind another case. A young
man, ready writer anil speaker, became
much interested in agriculture, having
small farm but with little c'pital to work
il, and also in debt. He wrote in vtri>us
ptpers and spoke in ali parts Of tie state
upon improved methods of agriculture.
BY study and the experience Of others (ot
| which he took pains to inform hinsslO
he knew whereof he ausht, and his teach
i1gs were reliable and prac cal, but he
could no. Keep up with them from the
lack Of means and-time. Therefore,
there were many to snap the fingers and
cry out, Look at his home and farm
His teachings AMI theories Were >Uunl.
aud lutte by little he followed them |
| say little by iiltle, for thougI there are
many fur farms and buildings in Vernon
| jse who hay. made them 50 know that
| It is a Ow process, Al east. II h" money
used must come from lhr l,rm i'self
Barren ii d, must needs he we'll cuItivt ei
| for a number Of years before Dtlay become
rich and fertile.
| Fruit trees won't grow from seed t.
bearing in sea -on, however much hn"wI-
edge one may use in caring fer lh,m
| Buildings and fences d. not pm and sep
themselves in order. 1t takes lime-hme
capital and brains to run n farm. Though
probably far from what he hopes his farm
10 be in the future this practical farmer
will be glad to show any one The Improve
ments he has made in his stock. crops.
and fruit trees. made by following his own
writings. He found it safe We cannot
always prove that certain methods ave not
correct because the nan who writes of
them does DOT practice them, fr some Of
hese fine farms yet reported by the ready
Vritcr who can more easily lt'l u- ''h W
It was done" tn IN the own.r " 10 tn nks
he can't write. Take tiss, class papers
md we think he advice and inSrru; ion
may be relied on. We may not dare to
expect 10 find the man who keeps mp all
h: various branches of f,rming Ia tha'
state Of perfection which sonebodU n0ws
| #; but, oh, ye practical farmers, write
for your papers. If You mae specially
nd a success o. sheep raising. write about
| i, and vi h,lpvn Won pvun il NJ, hpr,