News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1883-03-29
FARMING.
NeSSrS. Editors -

| 4HoSSrS. Editors -
By the request of some old farmers,
l will write for the benefit of younger
ones, some ideas derived from thirty
years of experience, and fifty years
Of close observation on matters per-
taing to Vermont farming. First,
farming is slow, sure, independent,
and the most satisfactory of all bust
ness to that class of men who are cal
culated for it. Itrequires good think
ing, common sense men to make good
practical farmers. The tilling of the
soil was regarded, before the last half
century, as second class business, and
was supposed to be carried on by
second class men and women. That
sentiment has changed largely during
the last fifty years. There are many
fast, fashionable farmers, that write
largely on fancy farming, that never
plowed an acre Of land, never hOed a
hill Of corn or potatoes, or MIXED a
COW, or considered the variety of soils
in different localities. Book informa-
ton is good, with much experience,
observation and application. The
summit of cultivation never can be
reached, such are the changes of our
seasons, in Vermont. The old Green
Mountain State is more a stock grow
ing than manufacturing State hence
grass and hay are the great leading
products of our soil. The lesser ones
are oats, corn, wheat, barley, potatoes,
hops and tobacco. The two last no
temperance man, or Bible Christian, |
will grow. One CT the great secrets
Of modern farming is in making and
saving a large amount Of manure, and |
knowing how to apply the same with
the best results. Every practical
farmer can make from every hog, ma |
nure enough, with muck and leaves. for F..
one acre Of corn. Stable manure, after |
laying over one year, and then shoveled |.
over and made fine, after fermenta- |
ton, is a good fertilizer for corn in
the hill. ] think manures are better, |
to be kept under cover and piled up
in the lowest part of the yard, than
to be carted i'll the spring, when tie
land is wet and the manure is not in
right state to mix properly with the
different soils. L recommend top
dressing in the fall, on cold, damp
meadows. Eight to sixteen cart loads |
of manure to the acre once in four !
years, is the surest and best way to |
treat much Of our meadow land, after
it has once been made tolerably |
| think, as q rule, with
most crops, pIoughing is better to be
done in the spring, when there is
time. | recommend a strong seeding,
on good land, more especially
with grass. Here is where many
farmers fail. Grass seeding should
be done early in the spring. Oats are
a hard crop to stock with; three
bushels to the acre being plenty for
the good Of the grass. A good farm
er will never sell more produce from
his farm than he buys equivalent in
Farmers should grow their
wheat, corn, barley and oats, as such
q practice would be better for them
selves, their town, county and State.
Early cut hay will take the place Of
meal to feed COWS in spring, and is
better for any purpose. Close and
late moving is very injurious to mead
Ows. Late and close feeding, more
by horse stock, is very de-
structive to all meadows and farms.
On many Of our Vermont farms there
IS more profit derived from young cat
lie, or flock of sheep well cared for,
and with less labor, both in and out
IF doors, yet | think Il stock of COWS
he best for most farms, all considered.
L attended the New England Fair
1t Lowell, Mass, in 1872, four DAYS,
md have attended many fairs since, }
md with my observations, | recon- :
mend to all practical farmers, for OK /
IN, cows, and young cattle, cross c
With the Devon and Durham, as such I
cross makes large, handsome, =
Iardy stock to grow. And for a a
lock of sheep, for wool and lambs, a v
ross Of long, coarse grade of a
fooI, with long, thick Spanish wool, Y
akng care to keep the best eve k
lmOs. \
The exports are live cattle, native {
orses, live pork, beef, butter and o
leeSe, potatoes, sugar, lumber, mar t;
lie, granite, copper, etc. Vermont is n