The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1889-01-31

hIbltiOn state. by a PrOhTbitiOnist.
PEwAUKEE, Wis, Jan. %. 1889
To the Editor of the Banner deal
SIR II take great pleasure IN looking
over the columns of your issue OF Jan
uary 10th, and reading of the lnteres
the people of Vermont are taking IN th'
subject Of agriculture, schools and schoo
books, and one very important suoJec,
(Which think the most important o.
aID, the liquor question. A few thoughts
upon all these beg a small space II
your most valuable paper, y
The first | will mention is agriculture
Vermont and Kansas find at the head
ing. from the Editor of the Wdtchmdn
| have 10 agree v it'll him as land Is like
bank, you can draw from bank I'll
there is nothing more to take out unless
renewed occasionally. IL is as true with
land, it will soon be exhausted OF all Its
worth or richness. II crops are taken
from the land every year and no deposits
placed in return upon this land, 1t will
soon run down and become worthless
for any kind of a crop, although have
heard il said, white beans would grow
on the poorest soil. Perhaps they may.
but they would be like the mans corn.
rs neighbor says, Your corn looks
yellow Says he, Il planted the y, !,
llw kind" mo, but it looks small
Il know it; planted the small kind, "
But it looks as though you would not
get half CROP" Il DON'T expect to; |
planted it on shares" But il looks Ike
the little Tucket corn" 81 know 1t. 1t
was tucket when planted it, tucket |
hoed it, and when harvested it could
tucket In very small place.
So if farmer expects to get valua-
BILE crop, or any kind worth harvesting,
he must enrich his land as much as he
possibly can. take pleasure to
mention my father as being one of the
most practical farmers in Bennington
County, IN the town of East Rupert, the
farm now being occupied by Mr.. Samuel
Phillips and Son, who have lived in that
part of the town since my remembrance.
A short history of my fathers farming
may not be out of place here, as | can
speak from experience, having lived on
this farm for twenty-five years and
know something Of the results of practi
cal farming in and among the hills of
Vermont. He was generally trying ex
periments in crops, such as potatoes, ETC.,
he raised the largest size potatoes of any
in that neighborhood, because he select
ed the largest potatoes to plant. One OF
his neghbors, Mr.. John Phelps, who
lived upon the farm which is now owned
and occupied by Mr.. Root, called upon
him one day as he was often accustom
ed to do and the subject of raising pota-
toes came up. He (Mr. Phelps) says my
potatoes Are all small. don't think
have the right kind of seed, and related
how and what he planted, For my seed
he said l always pick out the smallest
have. Father says there is where your
trouble is; come down into my cellar
and look at my potatoes. To his great
surprise he found not only very large
crop, but very large ones. During the
winter as potatoes were being taken
from this bin, the largest were thrown
out one side for planting the coming
season, and found that 10 what brings
me large potatoes in return. He exper-
imented in this way and and ] well
recollect the time. He began by plant
ing the skin, then one eye, and then two
and so on till he found that he received
the largest potatoes from the way above
stated. This kind of which | am speak
ing was what they calico the English
Whites and Leopards but l don't suppose
they can be found these days OF wonder
derful improvement and experience.
But what is true in one kind of crop is
invariably so with Others
NV Fathers farm is in skillful hands
today and the soil is not exhausted and it
is paying for all the labor and pains tax
ing. So is the one joining and | could
not help but take notice when | was in
Vermont two years ago this time, and in
winter. | could not help noticing thrift
on these farms; houses, barns, cribs, full
to oveI flowing and stock looking thrifty
and as though they had good care.
These practical farmers put that on the
land which produces a crop. Ifit is not
manure, they put on they grass ground,
plaster upon lands will show the benz fit
the first year. Then SOW in the spring
early. These farmers discovered were
at ease with plenty about them, and
money in the bank.
have had experience in Kansas lands
having been an agent for number OF
years of lands there, on the Kansas Pa
cific Railroad. now called the Union
Pacific. l spent three months time in
Kansas in the fall of 1873, and the spring
of 1879 staying there through the har-
vest. No greater crop was ever raised,
than was that spring, for | saw the
wheat IN the early spring till it was cut
and threshed. 1t was cut with header
machines. saw 90 acres cut and put
in the stack in one day. This wheat
when threshed yielded go bushels to the
acre, and some more, and weighed go
pounds to the bushel. Some weighed
more than this. We had it on exhibition
in our office in the City of Chicago, so
that people calling TO inquire about lands
were shown this wheat. with the yield,
and weight. Some thought it incredible
but were made to believe the story. 1t
was great inducement to 60 out and
look the country over. A good many
liked, and. purchased, but failures in
crops and their expectations not being
realized they got discouraged, and many
who could returned. | wish to say that
no better land can be found than in this
State, Kansas and of course in some Of
the other WesternStates, hut for all that,
| would advise all who are in good,
comfortable way of living to not think
of the Western States for farming. The
Government gives every soldier 100 acres
where it's lands can be found and this is
what induced me to go to that State. |
found this number of acres in the cour-
ty of Ellis and paid the small amount Of
two dollars TO file the land claim the fsll
went out. Today this land is worth
$4,000. II the same number OF acres
were in Vermont, it would bring SIC, 900
and cheap at that. The reason is obvi-
Gus. There is a market at your door for
all the farmer raises and at a good price.
l received letter from Hays City, Kan.
sas, in Ellis County asking ME il | wou d
take an agency for selling unoccupied
lands in that county this winter. know
ing that had been in that business be
fore. | aid not decline but on certain
conditions would accept. | did not wish
to go back to my old tricks again to &c
ceive the people, not in the land, for as
| have stated, no better land can be
found on this continent, but this ia not
all that is to be taken into consideration
could relate many circumstances OF
Ohio, Pennsylvania, Indiana, and other
more easternly States, Of farmers who
went out West and soon returned, while
others have been obliged TO stay. The
reason for this ia known TO great many
who sacrificed their home and Its com
forts, expecting to better their condition.
But their expectations were not realized
and they have returned where all who
could are satisfied to let well enough
alone. Farmers in that State, and Others,
have become involved, the failure oil
crops having left them in a bad condi
ton. | have been the means of sending
great many Eastern families into Kan
sas, and the question for me 10 settle is
Am l guilty, or not r No man hat
any business out there unless he hat
plenty Of means.
Ia IL anv uondar that Kansaa hecams