The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1893-08-09
Notes from Franklin County.

Agricultural EditOr:-The crops in
Franklin county run about as follows
On the lake and in all that region, hay
is magniticent-very heavy and of the
best quality. In the east part of the
county, it does not seem so good.
Potatoes look well, but the early kinds
are ripening off too early for the best
results. The hot dry weather for the
first three weeks in July was too much
for them. No appearance of the new
blight on the early kinds, and will not
be, as they are past it now. Oats good
Com is first class in color and growth in
the western part of the county; farther
east it does not lock so well.
Now for few nuts for the wise ones
to crack. 1t is VIGOROUSLY true that the
farmers on the shores of Lake Cham
plain sell large part of their hay, and
have done so for a lifetime. Some keep
half stock of cattle, and others sell
nearly every ton of hay. The land does
not flow, and very little fertilizer is
bought by most of them Yet those
are the men who are cutting immense
crops of hay. Not only so, but it is
generally conceded that a cold winter
with bare fields is hard on the grass
land We had no snow to speak of, and
the ground froze as never before. The
most cheerful farmers among US pre-
dicted last winter that this year they
would have to now their fields with
razor and rake them with a fine-tooth
comb in order TO keep a grasshopper
stall fed. AS a matter of fact, we are
buried up in hay of the best quality
Now let the Agricultural Board come
forward with their "strong reasons"
especially as east of us they had plenty
of snow and poor crop. My own
explanation is that most people who
keep a large stock let the cattle run on
the moving lands, while the people
who sell hay let the aftermath feed the
fields. One of the shrewdest farmers
in this county once said to me, "If
were to let my farm, | would not be
particular about restricting the sale of
hay; but ! would be certain that no
cattle run on the moving lands" But
what about the snow or lack of it? 1t
is good deal as it was with the old
woman and St. Paul. When Paul was
quoted against her she said, "That is a
where Paul and l don't agree" This is
case in which our agricultural wise
men and Nature don't agree.
BY the way, l notice Professor Hills
says limewater is good to keep paris
green from blighting the potato leaves.
Did Professor Hills ever see any potato
leaves so blighted? l think | have, if
mixed with flour, very strong, and put
on when tops were wet; but for two
years / have experimental with water
and put on as much on one hill as
should be put on twenty rods, and the
result was scarcely noticeable. | think
cold water put on in the hot sun may
blight the leaves, but l can show potato
tops to-day that are painted blind
green, and have been three weeks, and
not show Of blight. Here is another
case in which the old lady and Paul
don't agree. One-half of my own crop
of potatoes is fair; the other half is the
best l ever had and promises an i'm.
mense yield. If now, by any chance,
| should lose them, | should feel as did
the Irishman when he invited company
and it rained. He said he never felt so
ashamed in his life.
FRANKLIN COUNTY"