Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1892-06-09
A GOOD VERMONT DAIRY FARM.
PROGRESSIVE NEW ENGLAND FARM.

~ oV1b sGuuNONs b6tht 6ttNUs
A PROGRESSIVE NEW ENGLAND FARM.
The general impression in other States
in regard to New England farms and farm
ers is that the former are small and ex
hausted, and the latter men of little ener-
gy or business capacity. New England
writer's, particularly those OF the literary
class, are chiefly to be credited with in
ducing this delusive conception abroad.
The Yankee farmer OF the average tale
writer from Mrs. Stowe downward to the
last scrib bier for the STORY column, 'is in
reality myth or a survival from a long
past era. II seen at ali, it is in the "back
settlements 1t is quite safe to declare
as truth that nowhere in America are
there to be found more good farms, or
more skillful farmers,in proportion TO the
rural population, than in New England.
1t Is true that the application of scientific
principles and advanced methods (such as
is seen in English high farming), to the
cultivation Of the soil, has not yet made
very great progress outside of limited
circle; but the necessity for improvement
is widely felt, and the crowds of men and
women who flock to the farmers meet
ings-from those of the club or the Grange
to the great conventions OF dairymen, or
stockmen-testify to the truth of this
statement.
earliest ones opened in the settlement OF
northeastern Vermont. The war of 1912
called good many men from southern
New England up into the border country;
and the accounts brought back by them of
the vigorous forest growth, and the pro-
life character of the soil around Lake
Memphremagog, had the effect of stimu-
lating its rapid settlement-mostly from
western Massachusetts, and Connecticut (
The Connecticut river was assembled by
to the mouth of the Passump- \
sic; and the latter and its tributaries fCl-
lowed very nearly to the divide; from the
hills of which Memphremagog is in full .
view. The immediate neighborhood of the I
lake, and the Eat lands around its head,
were heavily forested with giant pines, the
stumps of some OF which may still be seen
by our roadsides. But short distance to
the eastward, after ascending from this
littoral plain, there was presented broad
territory OF magnificent hardwood forests
dotted with small lakes, and watered by
sparkling trout brooks, gathering in from
the hills to form the beautiful river Clyde
not inferior in romantic scenery 10 its
Scottish namesake.
''Cly desiden-a few of the farm build
ings, and some of the stock are shown
at Fig. 1885, OF territory of $50
acres, the arabic portion of which was first
subjected to cultivation in the first decade
JI TINS century Oy DCHl. anu ~
has since descended in regular succession
10 the wife OF the present owner, Major
Josiah Grout, who has purchased the
rights of the other heirs. The major is
farmers son and an honorable veteran of
the war for the Union. He Is also an en-
thusiastic agriculturalist and il his neigh
bors have persisted in sending him to rep
resent them for so many years in the State
legislature as 10 cause his repeated eleva-
lion to the speakership aud the frequent ,
suggestion OF his name for the governor
ship, it certainly cannot be looked upon
Is a fault in him. Well advanced in mid
lie age, he has held no self-solicited pre-
erment and his personal choice is, | am
ure, to be left to pursue his farm work
md carry out his carefully studied plans I
or the development of his broad acres of |
Irable pasturage and forest territory.
One hundred and five of these acres are !
lnder the plow-much the larger part in
me great level field in the rear OF the
iwelling- house, which stands on the main
treet OF the village OF Derby Center. Four
hundred and twenty-five acres are in pas !
ure, and 100 in woodland. On the latter
re found fully 1900 sugar naples, of !
which $500 are utilized in the production,
" the most approved methods, OF over
200 pounds OF choice sugar each spring. I
The hay harvest averages 200 tons yearly, !
4 the choicest quality. Twenty-Five acres
re DldHlcu W COIn AOf ACCulnks
ielding from $50 to 175 tons of dry fod-
Ter. A portion of this goes into silos; but :
he greater part is drawn in from the field. '
ut, steamed and fed out to the cows in /
milk. The yielding capacity of this farm I
Increases continuously, and is now several
lines more than it was ten years ago. The y
astures. also, have been greatly improved /
y the determination of weeds, thistles 1
nd bushes, and under systematic graz 1
ng, which is neither too close nor too Z
light. /
Seventy cows-all registered A. j. c. C., I,
r grades-are kept for butter, ranging 4
rom heifers about to come in to old cows $
D be soon eliminated from tho herd. Al I
)wing for heifers, the going-out and COM II
lg-in periods and removals, 80 may be T.
iven as ne average constantly in milk. 5.
[ their head are the two registered Jersey =
ulls seen in Fig. The butter product for v
ne past year was 1900 pounds, an aver a.
ge OF 240 pounds to each COW above four cl
ears of age-two two-year-olds or / 1-2
lree years old, be cC un ed as one. The q
utter is made By the Cooley system, ana u
be churn, as well as other farm machin- ly
", is operated by steam engine OF six n
orse power. a.
About 80 hogs are kept to consume the w
astes OF the dairy and improve the ms A
ure. About 20 Of the best heifer calves pi
-e raised annually. Forty horses of all Il
yes are kent. the aim being to raise good le
rivers There is also q flock of 50 Shrop-