Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1883-07-27
Farming up the river,

On the Connecticut 20 miles north of Brat.
teboro, VT, lie the large meadows of Putney.
Walpole and Westminster. The soil is a
mixture of heavy loan and sand, holds ma.
nure well and is very warm and quick A
common rotation is two years in grass, then
corn with all the manure produced on the
farm plowed in, followed by oats seeded with
grass. The grass is mixed with witchgrass
called in Deertield oat grass and considered
there TO make the best of hay Wages in
haying are 81 % and upward with day board
laying is finished before the middle of July
The fayorte rake is the revolver on wheels.
The popular hay rack has wide board bent
over each hind wheel TO the level of ths
wagon.
Oats are the money crop and yield an aver.
age OF 90 bushels to the acre without lodg.
ing Selt-raking and Irvine binding reapers
are used. The cats are cut slightly green
stacked the same day, and allowed to stand
I'LL thoroughly dry. The stacks are made of
eight bundles set up and capped with two
bundles straddled on the top and tied topetb
or. These caps are quickly put on, shed rain
well and seldom blow off.
There is but little variation in the details
OF farming here. All seem agreed as to the
best way to do everything Corn is all plant.
ca IN check rows. horse marker with pegs
three feet four inches apart is run tbroush
--NA@ eNNA n luhIhtT llhL VIII 90
good work as any, costs about loo A pole
four inches through is bored with two-iucb
holes for the markers, and for the handles.
Whlch are like common sled stakes, and Ii
inch holes for the thills, which are like bean
poles, The markers are % feet long 1
inches vide at the points, which are slightly
rounded the handles are 30 feet long. The
markers are set to draw little, and the handles
TO allow the holder to stand upright. Made of
white pine or spruce, the whole affair weighs
but few pounds. Many other kinds are
used, but all are made on the same principle
Inc common one-horse cultivators are the
Wright with hitler and the Blanchard. The
Flanet is being introduced and does good
work. the hoe teeth being especially liked
Any cultvator that will clog in witch grass is
useless here. Several western riding and
walking cultlvators are used. The first hoe
ing is often difficult, but the subsequent work
can mostly be done with the horse.
Corn is harvested in the cheapest way
known to man. The fodder is well cured;
the corn weighs GO pounds to the bushel. and
averages over 80 bushels to the acre. The
ears and stalks are much smaller than in
Massachusetts,. In cutting, five rows are
taken Tor row of stacks. A stack is made of
10 10 hills set around one or two hills on
ullddle row. The tops of the stack are turn
ed down aud firmly bound with rye straw
The stacks are pitched on the wagon whole.
Iron husking pins are commonly used. For
each two men bench 10 feet long, 10 inches
wide and 10 inches high is used, on which the
stacks are placed crosswise One husker sits
ON each end and breaks the ears toward tbe
top of the stack Husking is done for 30 per
bnshel and help pitch away the fodder; 30 to
10 bushels day is done by men who 90
around and make it a business.
The fact that most farmers have money at
interest Is evidence of their thrift and intelli.
geneeTlS. A. SandersoD, Wndham county
Nt-HOmestead.