The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1889-01-02

and especially where 1t is found that
the grass seedlings have not wintered
well, it is good practice to make such
sowings literally.
THE Hon CRANBERRY.-An eX-
change notes that the high cranberry
(Vibmpum Opulus) is recommended
by Garden and Forest as an orna-
mental shrub. Our able young con-
temporary does well to make this recon-
mendation. We have it, planted for
this purpose years ago, and regard this
common wild form as far superior to
the double. lowered form, long known
as SNOWFALL" While the flowers are
not so conspicuous, they are followed
by fruit which hangs on until after hari
frosts and is very ornamental at a time
when such ornamentation is badly
needed amongst our shrubbery. The
autumn colors of the foliage are also
very fine. A great many do not seem
to know that the " SNOWFALL " is merely
double-howered " Tree Cranberry"
POTATOES AFTER CORN.-This is an
excellent succession. For early market
we plant potatoes after heavily-manured
cabbages; but for the general crop they
follow corn finely, and in every hill
where there is bunch of corn-stubble
you will find big potatoes sure. 1t is
true that our farmers raise so little corn
that this succession is not generally
practicable to any great extent, but
those who grow ensilage ought to re-
member it. Vermont farmers do not
grow as much corn as they proftably
might, if they would plant the best sort
and give it liberal treatment. One of the
chief items in cost is husking, and when
the ears are small and short this counts
up. For nearly twenty years we have
been improving the Pierce, or Pedi-
gree corn, by selecting the longest
ears, and by rather thin planting and
liberal fertilization get always at least
one good long, full ear to a stock. The
ears of this variety, when ripe, hang
down, and the husk opens, making
husking light job, besides exposing
the ears, so that they dry quickly in the
September sun. a. NJ. Foster of Cabot
from whom we originally got the seed,
has since had some from us, and can
testify to the truth of what we say. But
we have no seed to sell, as we planted
none last season, and have only enough
left for our own planting next spring
when we intend to put in five acres.
AS DONE IN MAINE.-A farmer in
Detroit, Maine, who has tried our
method, says it has given him entire
satisfaction. In the spring he breaks
up piece of dry greensward and ma
nures heavily on the furrow for a crop
of corn. The next year he plants his
potatoes on the same ground, without
dressing of any kind, as the first dress
ing carries the second crop; by doing
so the potatoes are affected but very
slightly, or not at all, by the rot, or by
scab. The third year, on the same
land, he applies good coat of dressing
and seeds with grain and grass, such
producing this present year Con land
worn for sixty years. a crop of oats
measuring siXty-siX bushels of grain.
and good catch of grass-seed, to the
acre.
THEORY AND FACTS.-If a theory is
sound, facts will support it. On this
corn question it will pay thinking
farmer to make few figures. The
average corn crop of Vermont is about
thirty bushels. 1t is such crops as this
that do not pay a profit; but it costs
only a little to double this crop, and not
much more to treble it. Ninety bush
els looks large for an acre of corn. But
how many stalks can we probably
grow on an acre? Get out your pencil
An acre, with the rows three and one
lldll ltCb apart, Will navy lolt) " ~
rows, each 2G4 feet long. If we plan
in drills, plant every six inches, o.
two plants every twelve inches, we will
have, if we get perfect stand, p, III
stalks. When properly treated, thu
Pedigree corn will average five full
ears to every four stalks, or nearl,
81 900 ears to the acre. If you plan
with Macomber planter, putting il
, four grains every twelve inches, ant
thin at the second hoeing to two plants
you can get a nearly perfect stand
The Pedigree corn will, by frequen
careful tests, shell a measured bushe
2 of perfectly dry (kiln-driedD corn iron
2 240 full ears. This will give a thee
Y retical yield, with everything just right
= of a little over 12S bushels of perfect
1 dry corn, much drier than it can be 90