The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1890-02-06
SUCCESSFUL FARMING,

The Free Press is publishing examples
of successful farming in the immediate
vicinity of the so-called abandoned
farms. 1t says: j w. Leland bought
the Bigelow farm one mile routh OF Per-
kinsvile ab0u eighteen yesrs ago.
[Perkinsville is village in the town OF
Weathersfield. which while not colored
red on Il e commissioners map, is sur
rounded towns so colOred. Wealth
ersffeld escapes by reason of the soap
stone quarries and other mining opera
tions therein. He had some money to
begin ith, but run in debt for the
larger portion. The fam then consist
ed of 1876 acres more or less, which has
been inc eased to over 300 by the pur-
chase of mountain pasture lands.
The farm was considered one OF the
best in this region. 1t had at the time
of his purchase large bog meadow
south of the house which was too wet to
be worked. Now large crop OF hay IS
harvested each year and little is
plOwed. In few years this land VIII
be the best on the farm
A year ago last April K. B. Leland, d:
WIS younger son assumed cont,ol ana
has operated the farm since. He was
lately nj. Tried to an estimable lady, and
the young couple have settled down 10
their life work will every indication OF
achieving success.
The stock is almost entirely cattle and
now numbers 40 head. with three horses
and one or two colts, Sto IL sheep. and
several hogs, together with fine flock
of poultry consisting of chickens and
turkeys. -
To be more EXPLICIT the crops raised
were:
Hay ........... ........ ............. 30 tons
oGis.......... -. .... ..'...... zoo bushels
Corn ...........,...... .. 800 bushels
Apples. 'oO 70 20 oArr'is
Potatoes ..... .........I!............lO 100 bushels
With straw, corn, stover and other miscellaneous
products
The took of cattle consists of IL cows
the cream going to the Springfield
creamery, one pair It working steers
and the remainder young cattle, both
heifers and steers to keep the oxen and
cows good. Calves are raised on the
farms from the best cows and young cat
lie are bought in sufficient numbers to
keep the stock complete.
When the elder Leland bought the
place it was in fairly good condition, but
he Immediately began series OF lm-
rovements which are still going on.
Stones were picked and laid in wall>,
the large ones were blasted and hauled
out of the mOwings until every foot can
be moved with a machine. Young
trees were set out and others grated un-
| til an orchard of very superior fruit is
now in bearing.
Brush by the roadside and ar und The
moorings was cleared out so that no
land is wasted; and now when a field l.
taken up before it is put down again
he loose stone are carefully picked and
hauled off A roller is then used 50 that
the new moving is as smooth as the old.
The hay is IN ostly timothy and clover
The rotation of crops is so arranged tha
n field is allowed to become bound out
at all All the manure which accumu
lates in the summer is hauled ou in the
fall and all the ground plOughed. Some
of the breaking up is done if time al
l3ows. In the spring the winter manure
is got out spread on the top and plowed
under From four to six acres are gen
orally broken for corn. Some CONNER
cia fertilizer is used The result is a
large crop each year and constant i'm
prOvement in the farm.
Three years ago the barns were re-
Jared so that now they are the best ar
anged of any in the neighborhOnd A
table for cows extends the whole lengil
1T one and the manure is thrown ou"
under a shed so that all is saved. Tn
grounds around the building are I'll
graded and the driveway is nearly lev.
with the road without, doing away will
the hard pulls required to haul a loac
nto many barns, The horse barn l.
finely ARRANGED, aud the manure Roe'
through scuttle to the hog pen below
All stables for young stock are warn
and convenient.
The timber required in these repairs
was cut on the farm and cost, in money =.
,nly the saw bill. The woodIots are
ample, and some to spare. A fine sugir
ot adds materially 10 the income Of th
place, though it is not run for its com
mercial value 80 much as for it's addi-
zion to the family larder.
In the house is neatness and orde :.
Several first class news and literary pa
pers are lying about, among them the
Mirror and Farmer Pictures, carpr e.,
kn OK knacks. pretty woman's handi.
work and easy chairs, make an invirr g
Interior wonderfully suggestive of COM
f. tafter days work is done. Il IL IN
ideal home worthy the aspiration of az y
y ung man. Contrast il with We,te l.
| lug out or sQuatter's cabin,