Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1885-09-18
AGRICULTURAL.


ton of Governor Smiths extensive farm
Three miles to the west from the pleas
ant village of st. Adams is st. Adams
Bay, on Lake Champlain, and located on
the northern shore of this is the large
farm of Ex-Governor Smith 1t contains
1850 acres, II small portion only of which
is in wood. The land is mostly level the
soil strong clay loan, adapted to the pro-
duction of all crops rsised about here.
Mr.. i. l.. Farwell, from Massachusetts,
has had the management of the farm
since one year ago last spring and to him
am indebted for much information gath
cred from the visit
a road extends to the north some two
miles through the farm, inclosed with
neat wire fence and bOrdered most of the
way with newly set shade trees. On eth
er side were large meadows in which the
grass crop at the time of visit-the fore
part OF July-waS looking very promising
Hay is special crop here, and the show
Of timothy was very fine. While not far
away the fields were white with the
OK eyed daisy, did not see one in these
lieldS. They had been carefully eradica-
ted by pulling up, a labOliOus but salts
factory operation in the end. The annual
crop of hay goes well up into the hun
dreds OF tons, the most of which is of eX
cellent quality.
Fail seeding to grass is practiced to
some extent. Fifty acres will be turned
over after haying, MANFRED and reseeded
from which good crop of hay will be cX-
pected another year, and for several years
thereafter. There was IA field of fifty
acres in oats, something unusual to find
in one piece in Vermont. There were
twenty-five acres of field corn and sixty
acres for ensilage. In the great barn are
SIN Sllos, each with II capacity of 100 tons,
and last year these We're all filled, four
with corn and two with clover
Water is pumped by steam power from
the bay to Il large reservoir in the top of
the barn, from whence it is conducted to
the stalls below and to the other build
lngs, being carried us far as a mile and a
half to the north for the wants of the
farm. 1t requires some twenty men and
as many horses for the regular work of
the farm, while in haying twice the num-
Der of men is needed. There are six ten
ant houses for use of help. a carpenter
and blacksmith shops are required for the
work to be done here, which is no small
item.
The dairy is comprised of some 115 or
l2O cows, fifteen of which are thorough
llolstelns and forty Jerseys, the rest be
ing grades. y well arranged and finely
finished creamery belongs to the farm,
and here the milk from the dairy is made
into butter, Snd III addition that from 100
+ L
twenty to tWenty-three pounds of milk
were required for one of butter, according
to the quality of the feed. During the
month of June the milk of the herd aver
aged some sixteen per cent of cream,
which indicated good butter producing
qualities.
About one hundred hogs and pigs of all
ages, of the Berkshire breed, are kept,
and the animals are looking finely.
Farm and Tive stock Notes.
Never overfeed.
Weed the root crops
/ Drain Dogs in dry spells.
A stone wall makes the best fence.
Clean and thoroughly air the cellar.
Cut the roadside weeds and brambes.
A filthy COW stable is an appalling
sight.
/ Take note book to the fair, to iot down
new ideas in
| No live stock can suffer from want of
pure water and thrive
Don't SOW timothy with wheat, as it will
retard its growth; wait two weeks later.
It's mistake to feed mich cows heaYi-
ly with grain Two quarts of grain OF
meal ut IA feeding are better than six.
/ Seed-wheat that is infected with smut
should be purified before sowing. This
may he done by washing it in brine and
] W
il, stirring it in and drying.
To feed, field beets will yield more milk.
but carrots will make the most butter in
the winter time, This is because the beetS
are less rich as food; the milk thinner
Nentilate the Grain Bns-No bin is
complete if unventllated from the bottom.
one Of the best and most simple ventla-
tors consists of galvanized iron cone
about SIX inches across at the base and Il
foot high, punched full of holes over the
entire surface like IA cullender. Toaccum-
ulate this contrivance, saw circular hole
five inches across in the bin floor, over
which place the cone, securing it by few
nails. This yentllator Is cheap, conven-
lent and effective. To aid circulation
there are required also small windows in
the side of the granary near the ceiling
These should be covered with coarse wire
netting TO keep ont vermin.
September as a Butter Month. This is
+ usually conceded to be the best month
for butter making. Much more, however,
han the time, mas to do with the matter.
First there must be good COWS, remember
ing that in Il larger degree than many seem
to think feeding makes the breed. Good,
sweet, rich and abundant pasture is Il nee
eSSary element to the best ends. If this
is lacking, owing TO uniaVorable weather,
the shortage needs To be made up from
SOillng crops. There must be perfect clean
illness in the dairy house, in all the vessels
/ used, as well as in the air that Circulatcs
through the milk room. shallow pans,
Il low temperature and working out all
the buttcrmllk, are among other esseu-
tials. With all these things provided,
september cannot fail to prove the best
month of the twelve for butter making.
Curing Corn FOdder.-Alany IL farmer
whose heart has been glad over a hand
some crop of corn fodder, has later found
grief in discovering mould and decay I'M
eXpeCtedly, as Il result of bad curing. But
the curing can he done 50 thoroughly as to
avoid this The best way is to bind in
bundles whea it is cut, and place these in
shocks of seven each. Here they may
stand for three weeks, when they should
be put in shape for Wintering \ large
mass of fodder either in II stack or NOV is
almost sure to heat and spoil. Let the
shocks be brought to some high and dry
grass spot, near the stock barn, and he
set two together here TO remain until they
are cut up or fed. On grass the butts will
not freeze fast The double shocks should
/ be kept together with willow or straw
/ bands, and if closely tied Will stand until
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