The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1910-09-16
BACK TO THE SOIL.

Atflast there are creeping out
from time to time, evidences of q
growing belief that in New England
there are yet remaining chances
for renewal of agricultural pros
perity, repopulation of abandoned
farms and restoration of land values.
if rational efforts are made to secure
such desired results.
"Straws show how the wind
blows, and here are a few straws
selected from news items in the
papers of last week.
At an exhibition in Horticultural
Hall, Boston, there were shown
musk melons raised by James
Garthley of Fairhaven, Mass,
gardener of the H. H. Rogers
estate. They were of the finest
quality obtainable to melon culture.
They were big melons, too, the
largest having a circumference of
30 inches and weighing IA pounds
and l ounce. Another weighed 81
pounds, and all were remarkably
heavy for their size.
Eight specimens were shown
of a new seeding originated by
Mr.. Garthley and named the Mrs.
H. H.. Rogers. This is a green
feshed melon and nothing sweeter
in the melon line can be found.
There were also splendid specimens
of Honey Drop, which Mr.. Garthley
considers the best variety for general
culture, and several of Mr.. Garth
ley's own production, called the
Improved Honey Drop.
While possessing the fine flavor
and size of the parent, it is more
Melted, a handsomer melon, and
the flesh is considerably deeper
than that. Of 49, Hops-u nSSG, the
rind being very ees
tested the fruit a. ol l!sls.o be
as g od IN quality as - lety,
worthy of the gold medal. Mr..
Garthley, on a plot 75x63 feet,
raised about 1000 musk melons
this year.
The Manchester, n. H., Unions
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT that
Stephen Wells of that place has
raised a crop of apples this fall
that fairly outrivals anything that
Wenatchee, Wash, can show up |
Particularly has he been successful
with a red Beichmer variety. Some
of these apples were weighed and
they weighed three-quarters of a |
pound apiece and measured exactly |
a foot in circumference. They are
of a brilliant red and yellow in
color, and a pleasant sour in taste.
Mr.. Wells managed to get several |
bushels of the Beichmer variety. |
They would make a handsome |
apple for exhibition purposes.
Wheat raising is profitable in
At Pinecroft farm |
in Lenox there was harvested this
year, All bushels of winter wheat
from a 1907 acre field, the yield
being sold at the rate of $3.50 a
bushel in the home market. Pine
croft farm is the property of
A. Schermerhorn of New
York and George w. Ferguson is
its manager.
Wheat raising on this farm was
begun as a matter of economy, the
grain being used as feed for the
poultry, which consists of about
l 800 Rhode Island red fowls of the
best strain. For several years
enough wheat has been produced for
home consumption, the straw being
utilized as bedding. The return
in value was astonishing and sug-
gested the experiment of raising
for profit.
A l0-acre lot, on which grew an
Of quack grass, was
chosen. In order TO rid the land
Of the quack, the field was plowed
and sowed entirely to buckwheat,
which hardy grain successfully killed
The undesirable growth. Its heavy
foliage shut out the sun from the
soil beneath, killing the grass by
it of the sunshine.
When the buckwheat was well
grown it was plowed under, and
nus fortified the lot, together
With possibly two tons of CONNER
,ial fertilizer. From this expert
mental lot, a bumper crop Of wheat
vas reaped in August. Not only
vas the wheat perfect in head, every
,ernal being well filed, but the
,ody Of straw was excellent. After
hreshing, the harvest from this
0-acre lot measured Az bushels.
Ill an estimate ~ % h,,cIolu