Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-08-15

HoVeo IOr PROBABLY the nrgt time In its
history. and spread on the measured land
This then was plowed under and the new
surface narrowed and narrowed until the
soil was 10 pulverixed az almost to re-
semble dust. Then all the grass roots
were carefully raked off. What few
stones were turned UP were removed and
the whole made to resemble a harden.
This result accomplished. sedgewick owed
MS neighbor for four days use Of his
team and tools. Correspondence with the
department Of agriculture at Washing
ton had brought frequent bulletins con-
tanning formulate for chemical fertilizers
with carefully prepared Instructions for
their use.
!, SOME PRACTICAL FARMING.
These were faithfully studied. Tho hast
seed obtainable was bought and though
he did not know how to use It with tho
wisest skill and economy, sedgewick was
able. by the first Of May, to point to three
acres Of potatoes coming UP evenly and
we'll, and which represented an OUTLAY in
cash of s5s for the seed and s72 for h,s
chemicals. The formula used was, per
acre: Nitrate Of soda, $50 pounds; dried
blood. 900 pounds; sulphate potash $50
pounds acid phosphate, 400 pounds.
T.ey were SO far In the country that
until an automobile could be afforded
daily trip to the city was not practicable,
but the market man had told them Of the
steady demand there was for all the sum-
mer vegetables and they. therefore. plant
ed peas, sweet corn. beans. string beans
and limas bought some tomato and cab
rage plants and set Them out, and after
thoroughly pruning and fertiizing with
house waste some discouraged old curra mt
bushes, discovered in what had once been
the garden" found their hands full Of
pleasant outdoor work The neighbors
began having about the flrst Of July.
Sedgewick offered to help them If they
in turn would help him. In that way he
paid what he owed for his spring blowing
and got his own hay In as we'll lie judg-
cd that on some IS acres cut over, he
harvested q tons Of witchgrass and herds
grass, and the weather being particularly
hot and favorable for the purpose. 1t was
all put into the barn In f1rst-class con-
d.tion.
He had noticed that his neighbors kept
cows and sold their milk at the door. He
inquired the price they received and found
it was 32 cents a can of eight and a half
quarts. Careful search. aided by the
shrewd Judgment of his neighbor. result
ed in the expenditure Of $50 for a large
high-rrade Holstein of some four or five
years old that presented him with bull
calf two weeks after he bought her. This
was about the first of May. The calf he
sold for five dollars and his SIS purchase.
as she then cost him net. yielded an aver
age of 20 quarts of milk day for the
next ensuing three months. OF these he
sold daily IL quarts. or two cans. which
brought him In g. cents day. or SIS for
the three months. and he had had two
quarts day for his own use besides. The
feed In the pasture and around the door
yard was much more than one animal
could consume, and he bought no grain.
His pig. however. or. rather his "saouw,"
which had cost him eight dollars at the
time of the cow purchase now presented
him with a family OF six little pigs and
II was necessary to spare some of the
milk and to buy a little grain for her and
them. AS soon as possible this interest
ing family were turned into a plot Of four
acres. enclosed at one corner OF the pas
ture where grew two gigantic oaks. and
spoiled corn. scattered judiciously and at
intervals. they rooted loudly for the farm
and so made ready next years potato
ground.
'My lear" said his sister, one day, IT
think there's money in hens" Prob
ablyi" he answered, lets see II we can't
get some out" and they did. Their ad-
ventures here, however, form n chapter
49,
net results were encouraging at the end
of the year. And summer wore on.
They sold five bushels Of green peas at
two dollars and n half n bushel; ten BUSH
els of string beans and limas az two dol
lars a bushel. And from their sweet corn,
tomatoes. cahhages currants all together
total Of slCS was received. Harriet kept
Il careful cash account of receipts and ex-
penditures, and the neghbor's horse and
wagon was used in exchange for such
vegeta bles and labor as formed fair
equivalent The telephone brought word
from different markets In town of the
things most needed and their price
In October, of the o. apple trees whose
regeneration had been attempted the 10
which had received most care yielded two
barrels apiece OF No. l fruit the other
10, but a barrel and half apiece. while
from the remaining 80 but 10 barrels were
obtained. The total of As barrels carefully
packed and honestly graded were sold for
two dollars a barrel. and deducting the
cost of the barrels the orchard was found
to have yielded a little over $50. But the
most encourae ing results appeared when
the potatoes were dug. Very careful meas
ure was made and from the three acres 500
bushels OF No market potatoes were
obtained and sold for one dollar a pushed.
Gordon Woodbury.. in the Boston Tran
script.