The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1902-07-02

M1IllOub utDullt hHOMltukt, anu Ntig
little was known of the combination
of the ingredients of milk or the phil
osophy of the process of manipulation
and manufacture of the product
The arrange and layout of the farm
lands, with the various parts conform
ing to profitable management, the re-
construction of the barns and stables,
adapting them TO dairy needs and
uses, the selection and breeding of
dairy animals, the preservation and
proper ways of using farm manures
and replenishing field fertility by the
use of commercial stuffs had been
little thought of. | should say the ex-
pertinent station has been the greatest
help to Vermont farmers. The Yer
mont farmers organized the first
dairymen's association in 1870 which
has been of incalculable value to
them.
1t is a pleasure to visit these farm
homes of Vermont. The conveniently
arranged barn is well supplied with
the choicest forage. The stable of mod
| ern construction is comfortable, con-
venient and clean, with plenty of sun
! light and good air. Knowing the val
ne of fertilizing elements, the farm
er saves all the manure, both liquid
and solid, which is hauled afield and
spread daily. The herd of cows he
has carefully bred aud reared for a
special purpose. By the use of the
| Babcock test and the scales he deter
mines the capacity and value of each
cow He will tell you the relative
| profit of the individual COWS and of
those that were Improbable, but
he keeps them no more. The pasture
| L.. l. Ir. Ia. 20
accommodate the fast growing young
forest that is claiming its own, the
smaller area giving more profitable
feed. Experiment station work has
shown that but few things upon the
farm make balanced and economical
cattle food alone, chief of which is the
young and tender grass of the past
ure, and regarding this principle he
feeds the pasture early and close, sup
plementing with corn grown the pre-
vious year kept stored in the silo.
The meadow lands have been curtail.
ed for he no longer practices extern
sive, but intensive farming He uses
less land for hay than formerly, as he
now harvests at least three tons pei
acre at two cuttings, on the same
principle that operates in profitable
pasture feeding, the early cut grass
containing greater proportion o.
muscle forming or milk making sub
stance. The corn field has been en-
larged for he has learned to raise corr
cheaply and make of it a cheap anC
very desirable food for the dairy COW
Eighteen tons we'll matured corn pc
acre is not an unusual crop and i
equal in food value to about sever
tons hay. Moreover, he raises clover
the best of all crops for the dair.
farmer When harvested in its hes
condition it makes a balanced ration
and profitable food alone, and at TIN
same time increases the fertility o
the land instead of impoverishing it
In rotation of crops he adopts a shor
course, not allowing land to run dow
below the production of two crops o
hay in a season. In the use of com
mercial fertilizers he buys such III
gradients as he wants, compoundin
and mixing by his own Judgment an
knowledge and avoiding the losse
which come from the indiscriminat
: and promiscuous use of these things
He no longer cultivates his field
with the sole purpose of KILN
l weeds, but he cultivates the CROWN
, crops to mulch the soil, conserve tn
: moisture ana to make available tn
inert power of the soil. The orchar
is well kept and thing of beauty an
i'll autumn the trees show the effect c
intelligent husbandry and cultivation
: The advantages of such culture an
, annual bearing are seen in seasons lik
the past, when the neglected orchar
refuses to produce fruit and til
7 ! diligent husbandman has the markC
| al IN u; 81,
crop which is grown to a limited e2
tent on all farms. j. S. Sanford,
New England Homestead.