The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1892-09-14
More Tree Lore---Dairying,
Feeding, etc.

Mr., A. M. Fosters communication in
late issue of your paper reminds me
that while recently splitting some ma
pie for my heater, / discovered hole
which appeared to have been made by
an inch auger, around which the wood
was somewhat decayed, but there was
nearly three inches of perfectly sound
wood outside of the hole, and the block
appeared to be perfectly sound and
smooth on the outside. There never
was any sugar made on the place pre-
vious to 1850, and no instrument larger
than half-inch has been used since
1865, which think gives an indication
of the growth of the timber.
| noticed your request for mention of
peculiar or notable trees. There is an
old landmark on one of the lots of land
selected by Farley Davis when survey
ing the lots of the original town of
Montpelier, VT, an elm which seems
to outtop nearby church spire. The
top is very small for so large a tree.
The trunk or body has circumference
of about fourteen feet some six feet
from the ground and very much larger
at the root; the body continues of very
even size to the limbs away up. This
tree exhibits something of the marvel
lous growth of timber, or of the filling
up of vacant places. The tree must be
quite aged, as l have often heard the
statement that the first brood of chickens
raised by said Davis were from stolen
nest in hollow of that tree; and as
Farley Davis was married in 1894, and
commenced keeping house, it is reason
able to suppose the tree is well along in
years, and shows little signs of decay.
AS showing of the growth of fresh
wood l will say the former cavity is
completely filled up at the surface by
fresh wood and fresh bark and appears
something like new root filling the
space. Another elm, sapling set out
in the front yard of the old farm to re-
place maple broken down some sew
enty years ago, has attained a circum-
ference of ten and one-half inches four
feet from the ground and is one-third
larger than naples set out at the time
of the one which was broken.
have many times thought when
reading articles in the paper calling for
experience, also in making statements
inconsistent or promulgating some alb
surd theory, that l would say word,
but let the time pass until it would
seem out of place. However, being
past much practical labor, l will give
some of my experience and observa-
tons. In relation to seeding land to
grass in the spring without grain, 1
have had no experience, but have had
grain sent by the Department of Agri-
culture at Washington which failed to
materialize, and the grass sown with it
amount to about the same thing as
sown alone, and did not amount to any
thing the first year. But have often
seeded to grass alone in the fall with
very good results, having a crop the
next season equal to two and one-half
to three and one.half tons per acre by
actual weight, and if have piece of
moist land-too wet to work in reason
able time in the spring. would always
so seed, but would want to SOW it in
August or September to give chance
to get a start, and l would seed much
of my land IN that way, but that it is
desira BILE to raise crop of oats.
In regard TO the silo," much has
been written in favor, but considerable
of it by interested parties. Some have
discontinued after practical test. AS a
rule, people do not publish their fail
ures from experience which would often
be as valuable to the community as
reports of success. l have seen many
reports favorable to ensilage, but when
all the facts came out of other feeding
of grain, etc., the silo did not seem de-
sirable for me. l have visited farms
where ensilage is fed; it seemed more
like sour-krout than anything else, and
the butter tasted ditto. One farmer
said his cows would eat ensilage in
preference to the best of hay-he had
Just watered and fed ensilage into the
crib. Seeing some hay on the floor, 1
put some, not of the best quality, into
the crib. The cows rooted the ensilage
out and ate the hay. Most people, when
telling how much grain they feed (only
little) fail to include that which goes
into the silo with the stalks, which is
equal to fifty bushels per acre, or more.
| suppose you saw the Burlington
Free Press supplement of December "a
last, report of the Danvllle meeting of
the Board of Agriculture, and of course
you are acquainted with l.. @. Fisher
of Cabot, a thorough farmer. What
ever he does is done to make successes,
has splendid farm and spares no ex-
pense for Improvement, having good
pocket-book on both sides of the FAM
lily, if needed. Well, he was called
upon at the Danville meeting for ex-
perience in dairying, and is reported as
saying that he commences haying June
Is, and put fourteen acres of Sanford
corn, weighing twenty-five tons per acre
into the silo (only think of handling
300 or more tons Of corn stout enough
to weigh twenty-five tons per acre,
"and feed three pecks night and morn
ing, also good feed of this hay and
grain ration of four or five Quarts OIL
pounds) each time, the ration composed
of corn and cottonseed meal, the best
he can get, the more kinds the better;'
but he does not mention bran as part
Il think one would be safe to say thai
he does not strike the measure-and
= that "his cows averaged him BIC
pounds per head of butter" think