The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1916-06-12
WASHINGTON COUNTY FARM
BUREAU ASSOCIATION.

Farmers visited ....-..... IL
J Letters written ........... 40
Persons calling ........,... 10
\ Phone calls ..,....,..,...- %
Meetings commandments.
Attendance ,.......s..,.. lz2
Miles travelled ..........., lS2
The rainy weather this week has hell
up planting to quite an extent. However
the following farmers have put in thei
demonstration crops of soy beans anc
corn: DIR. II. d. Hopkins of Waterbury
10 acres; George |. Cummings OF Shady
Rill, acres; A. 7. Smith & Son Of Barre
acres; r. c. Collins of East Montpelier
lb acres. Also Warren Woodward OF
Waterbury put in his demonstration piece
of lining for clover, AT the present writ
ing there are IL demonstrations of the
soy beans and corn and Is farmers are
listed as having put in some of the soy
beans besides.
A number of inquiries have been reg
istered this week concerning spraying.
The county agent is very glad to be of
assistance along this line. Wednesday,
June Ia, there will be demonstration of
pruning and spraying on the farm OF A.
N. Stratton in East Montpelier. Thfs
will be an afternoon meeting, beginning
at 1880. All the farmers interested in
this work are invited to be present. Trees
of several ages will be pruned and some
lspraying done. Spraying and spray ma
terials will be discussed and if time per-
mits other topics may be taken up.
A meeting was held last Thursday
night at West Roxbury, about ~ being
present. The work of the bureau was
taken up in detail and the benefit OF To-
cal organizations to help out in its work
also received very thorough discussion.
Mr.. Wheelock. a recent graduate Of the
University of Vermont, contributed some
| timely remarks. A committee was APP
pointed to agitate the matter of forming
farmers club in West Roxbury.
How about buckwheat? Practically
all the buekwheat of the United States
is grown in New England and Pennsyl-
vania Buckwheat should be sown on
land prepared as for corn 1t is an ex
|cellent crop for late planting in case the
crop tried has failed. Buckwheat should
be seeded about six pecks to the acre,
less will do if the land is in fair shape |
as regards fertilization. There is prob |
ably no other crop that will produce bet |
ter on infertile or poorly titled land. 1t |
is suited to all kinds of soil, needs but |
little lime, and is practically a sure crop. |
1t responds readily to fertilizers. Three |
varieties are common, Japanese, Silver |
Hull and Common Gray. OF these there |
is not much choice between the first two.
The third does not yield SO well. Buck |
wheat is sensitive to cold and Is killed |
by the first heavy frost. 1t fills better
in the cool weather, however; therefore,
we should figure on sowing it so that it
will mature at the proper time, the aver
age period of growth TO maturity being
about II weeks.
Buckwheat is subject to practically no
insects or fungus diseases. 1t is an ex
cellent crop for destroying weeds and
putting the soil in fine mellow condition.
The grain can be used for many pur-
poses. It is an excellent grain to use in
! mixture for poultry and ground makes
q good meal for mixtures to feed other
stock.
The extension service and the Wash
ngton County Farm Bureau association
ioes not pretend to confine itself to help
ng the farmers. The farmers wives
llso come in for their share. The fol-
owing notes are taken from an article
n the weekly news letter from Wash ,
ngton, d. c., June I, 1916 Copies OF
his may be obtained free upon applica
ion to Washington or to the county
gent.
Cans of corn, peas, beans and aspara
tus may show no signs Of spoilage and
ret when opened they have a sour taste
md disagreeable odor. This trouble
an be avoided If the Gamer win use Y
roducts which have not been gathered 2
more than five or six hours and will
'anch, cold dip and pack one jar at '
ime and place each jar in the cooker as
is packed. Rapid cooling of these 0
roducts prevents overlooking clarifies v
he liquid and preserves the shape and
exture of the vegetable. Select corn 4
hat is just between the milk and the X
ough stage. Blanch not longer than q
We minutes. A plunge in cold water is q
efficient.
Beets that run 40 to the quart are the II
lost suitable for canning, To remove o.
he skin they should be scraped rather "
nan peeled. Leave on the stem and tail
lille blanching. Too great acidity of te
,matoes may be corrected when can
ing by adding one-fourth teaspoonful 81
baking soda to quart of canned to-
atoes while they are cooking. be
Water for home canning should be
1re. soft and free from mineral mat
RS. Hard water often causes the hard.
hing of beans, peas and some other
.oducts after cooking. Hard water also
nds to give the vegetables dark olive &c
russell color.
Yours truly. =
+. II. Abbott, -
County Agent -