Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1900-08-10
FARMING IN VERMONT
HOW ONE FAMILY HAS MADE 1T PAY
HANDSOMELY.

The BrattleborO correspondent of the
Springfield Republican wrltas as follows
Does farming pay? While it is prob
ably true that many of the farmers of
Vermont would be inclined to answer
this query in the negative, nevertheless
such conclusions would hardly stand in
the face of positive proof to the contrary,
which is not hard to establish among the
more progressive and systematic tillers
Cf the soil. There are a number of such
farmers in Windham county, any one of
whom will affirm the declaration that un-
der proper management a farm can be
made to return a reasonable income on
the investment. One Of the best exam
pies of intelligent farming is offered from
an investigation of the methods en-
ployed and results obtained on the
Wilder farm over West River, some two
miles from the village. Here, for more than
100 years, thrifty family of farmers have
succeeded in attaining wealth and indie
pendence in cultivating a farm, which in
the early days was densely wooded and
unproductive. In 100, Joshua Wilder,
greatgrandfather of the present owner of
the farm, settled thereon, and for 80
years labored industriously and success
fully to improve and add to his posses
sons. He was succeeded by Solomon
Wilder, who died in 1880, when his widow,
Iavina Wilder, by the help of her three
sons, Marshall, George A. and Joseph
continued to conduct the affairs of the
farm to the profit and maintenance of all
concerned. AT her death the sons came
into possession of the estate. and for
many years were considered the most
frugal and conservative farmers of the
town. The last of the three brothers
died less than year ago. leaving as a
most satisfactory inheritance one of the
best farms IN Vermont. together with a
handsome estate. as a result of their long
and careful stewardship. This estate
comes as an Inheritance to Arthur b.
Clapp, one of Brattleboro's prosperous
business men, who received his knowl-
edge of practical farming from his uncles,
the Wilders, and is now carrying on the
farm under the improved methods which
long experience have developed and
made applicable to the present day and
generation.
general were they to initiate some of the
many schemes employed by Farmer"
Clapp, which are valuable factors in the
successful management Of this farm.
stocked as il is with 30 head of cattle,
horses, swine. and a gOodlv number Of
fowls all of which are made to contribute
their part to the profits obtained This
seasons crops include - acres Of corn.
II acres of Oat fodder. and an anticipated
crop Of SO tons of hay, at least 800 BUSH
al, Of potatoes. lo0 barrels of winter ap-
pies. and other lesser products for home
consumption. One of the products not
generally reckoned at its true worth. be-
cause of the failure of many farmer to
turn his apple crop into ready cash, is
the manufacture of vinegar. which Mr..
Clapp sells after keeping two wears. The
average yearly product i about 200 gal
Ions, all of which i readily disposed of
at good prices.
In speaking of the wisdom of the at
tempts to reclaim Nermont's abandoned
farms, Mr.. Clapp says with much enthu-
siasm: II am fully convince that most
any Vermont farm can ne made to pay
good returns. if Systematically and intel
! lgentlv worked. If were to undertake
to reclaim abandoned farms. the first
| thin z would Go would be to produce
sufficient fertilizers and begin work in
the spring of the year. Assuming that
a farmer is without capital. |, Of course.
allow that he is thrifty. and hence will
have little difficulty in getting a few cat
tie with which to stock his pastures. At
first he should put in six acres of corn to
an equal number of cattle pastured. nv
rule being an acre to a head. This stock
should be stabbed nights, in order to Sc
cure the manure, "a one great object
would be to produce as much furtilizer
as possible. Every farm has muck, and
this should be drawn out in a reasonable
quantity for the stables, this being one
of the very best of absorbents for liquids,
and less expensive than any other fer
tllzer. The herd should be largely of
cows, the milk from which should be
turned into butter as the most profitable
way of disposiug of it. If means are at
hand, procure a separator; it might be
better 10 sell the cream to a creamery
and feed the milk to the calves and pigs.
There is really more money in poultry
for the amount invested, If properly
cared for, than most any other thing. A
farmer in the beginning will have some
time to work out, his farm for the first
year or two requiring less attention than
after 1t has been developed. One thing
should be emphasized-good fences are
absolutely essential to good farming. If
there be a sugar orchard on farm, it
will pay to keep it up, as sugar is made
at a season when other farm work is not
crowding. have no sympathy with the
tendency 70 cut oil the sugar orchards,
because the time is coming, with reason
able attention to this product, when a
large income can he secured from the
sale of sugar and syrup. The second
year the fertilizer is to be put on the land
| that was broken I'D the wear before