Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1916-10-06
CROPS ON A BARREN PLAIN.
Experiment in Irrigation and Dry
Farming Successful in Montague
Largest Income from Tobacco.

Largest Income from Tobacco.
The Turner's Falls Co., corpora
ton with u very large capital, whose
business is the development of water
power for manufacturing purposes,
both at home and for transmission 30
or more miles away, is trying n very
interesting experiment in cultivating
the soil on what has been considered
barren plain land at Turner's Falls
Mass, on the Connecticut river where
its principal power stations are located
The corporation owns 1900 or 1000
acres of land on Montague plain, and !
aside from the land which is near the
village of Turner's Falls and used for
building lots, the land has been con
sidered practically worthless, especially |
for farming purposes.
Last year the experiment was tried
on a small scale of pumping water from
the Connecticut river on land two or
three miles from the village of Turner'S
Falls and seeing what could be grown
on the light sandy soil when abundant
ly irrigated. The experiment was sulli-
GENTLY successful last year to warrant
the expenditure of much more money
this year.
Another experiment is being tried,
the cultivation of about five acres of
sweet clover and this is not irrigated.
Sweet clover is similar to alfalfa. The
crop is doing fairly well but not nearly
as well as it would do if irrigated.
The visitor to the experimental farm
can now see acres of Havana tobacco,
which is said to be nearly equal to
any grown on the fertile lands of the
Connecticut valley; several acres of
onions; large field of corn and mis-
cellaneous crops of varied nature
consisting of many kinds of farming
truck and fine flower garden includ-
ing row of sweet peas, several rods
in length with thousands of blossoms.
The corn is only irrigated in part.
The experimental farm is in charge
of Frederick Perry, who is not a Gradu-
ate of any agricultural college. Mr..
Perry simply claims to be n practical
farmer who likes life in the open.
Water and work and an expenditure of
n fair amount of money is what has
brought the success thus far secured.
Just now a tobacco barn, 72x36, is be-
! ing erected There is a comfortable
bungalow in which Mr.. Perry and his
wife and son make their home, barn
anu II IcW OlHcT OutDullulnHS
just how much money has been spent
is not stated and how much of a com
mercial success the experiment will be
will not be fully known for two or
three years. This year it is expected the
principal income will come from the
tobacco. Experts who have visited the
farm say that the crop is remarkably
good. The tobacco now growing on the
L., al e., @,.la lac
year, is larger and better than the to-
bacco this year grown on land which
was not cultivated for tobacco last
year. This is also true of the onions.
In other words, it is necessary to cul-
tivate both tobacco and onions prob
ably five years on the same soil before
the best results are secured.
The land is so sandy and light that
a foundation underneath has to be es-
tablished before the best results can be
secured. This foundation is secured in
n variety of ways. The water is now
pumped from the Connecticut river 175
feet to the level of the land which is
under cultivation. 1t is the estimate of
experts that in an average season about
p 800 gallons of water per acre are
necessary each week in order to give
the proper moisture. The water pipes
are so arranged that water can he
thrown from them on every plant in the
field. Fertilizers are used, but in no
larger quantities than on the rich river
bottom land.
OF course there are obstacles to
overcome. Deer for instance. Then the
ordinary tobacco worms put in an APP
pearancc promptly, but these were
knocked off the plants and killed. Mr..
Perry found a bug which was eating
some of the leaves of the tobacco and
specimens were sent to the Massa-
chusetts Agricultural college at Am
herst. The authorities there pro-
nounced the insect to be n tarnsh bug.
This bug found good feeding in the
truck garden when the leaves were
tender and then promptly transferred
its field of endeavor to the tobacco
leaves. Care has to be taken in irri-
eating the tobacco plants so that the
leaves are not spotted.
Will these experiments be n success
The men at the head of the Turner's
Falls company are hard headed bust
ness men who are not given to chasing
rainbOws. Tobacco and onion land is !
now worth in the Connecticut valley
from $3.50 to $500 an acre. 1t is be- |
lieved that it can be shown inside of |
five years that by the use of water, all
so-called waste land on Montague |
plain can be made to grow large crops
and at a cost that will bring large re-
turnc On thn -uonay invested