160 



THE FARMER'S MONTHLY VISITOR. 



From tlie Vermont Chronicle. 

 A Vermont Oat Crop. 



Mr. Tracv:— iMotioed ill yiMir paper an ac- 

 count of Gov. Hill's oat crop ibis season ; and it 

 any man liad piuduced more, he was invited to 

 comuiuiiicate the luct. 



1 will fjive you a brief stalcment of my oat 

 crop, on the sa'nie number of acres, (four.) As 

 he gave his manner of cultivation, I will give 

 mine, as they differ in some respects. 



Our lands were under about equal state of cul- 

 livttion. to begin with. In the season of J8j39 

 my land was ploughed up in the sward. In the 

 month of May, 1840, it was ploughed and thor- 

 ouglily harrowed ; then twenty loads of good ma- 

 nure were spread l<> the acre, and all ploughed in 

 to the dejith of lour inches, and iK.riowed lii wii 

 smooth. Then the four acres were planted to po- 

 tatoes; and I harvested nine hundred and f^even- 

 ty-seven bushels from the lot. In the spring ot 

 1841 the land was ploughed once, and 1 sowed 

 sixteen bushels of oats upon the four acres. The 

 oats stood up remarkably well ; hut tew lodged : 

 and 1 think the cause was, that we had no ruin to 

 limber or burthen the stalk after the oats began 

 to till. The piece was reaped, and the oats Iioumci 

 in very large bundles— so large that it was ditfi- 

 cult in nianv instances to stook twelve bundles in 

 a stook. I had them stooked in that manner for 

 the purpose of counting correctly ; and the lesuli 

 was five hundred and eighly-eighl stooks, c,l 

 twelve bundles to the stook.* If New Hampshire 

 has beat Vermont on oats this y<-ar, let us know 

 it, and we will try them next season. 



UKANCES JUNE. 



Brandon, Vt., Od. 4, 1841. 



•Gov. Hill's crop from four acres was 275 stooks, 1'2 

 bundles tn the stook— rather mure than ha\f as many as 

 Mr. June's. We should like to know the number ol 

 bushels in each. ' EnrroR. 



We acknowledge Mr. June's crop of oats i 

 i niucli larger than ours as the soil of Verii 



which makes the Green Mountain boys the gn.-at- 

 est agricultural producers of the Union in pro- 

 port'on to population, is better than that soil dI 

 New Hampshire eastward of the Connecticut ri- 

 ver ridge. 



We have threshed fourjioads of our oat crop 

 and we find the product ninety bushels, making 

 at the rale of not ipiite seventy bushels to tin 

 acre. Our crop miirht have been somewhat lar- 

 ger if double the quantity of seed had been (lui 

 lipon the ground, and the oats had stood up tiriu- 

 ly. Of this, although there was no severe rain tc 

 lay them, there would have been great doubt — lor 

 the rank stalks fell as it was where the pil 

 manure had rested the previous year. Besides, 

 we encountered here as we believe one of the 

 most severe droughts ever known ; and we have 

 reason to think tiie drought this }ear did little or 

 no injury to Mr. June's crop in Brandon. 



The quantity of the Biaiidoji crop of oats 

 would seem to be incredible: if the bundles were 

 the size of ours and as full heads, the crop could 

 be hardly less than one hundred andfijty butheh to 

 the acre ! Practical fcrmer* will be able to judge 

 whether it be possible to obtain so much from an 

 acre. Mr. June sowed sixteen bushels of seed 

 -where we sowed only six bushels: there having 

 been no rain to limber or burden the stalk alte 

 the oats began to fill, it is possible the same 

 ground might have sustained more than double 

 the quantity of oats npon our ground — it would, 

 iiowever, be impossible, as we think, for any 

 ground to bear an equal burden in proportion to 

 the seed sowed. 



The editor of the Visitor travelled in the month 

 of August up the Connecticut river valley and 

 through the county of Orange, into Washington 

 and back through Windsor county, Vermont, 

 when the drought in this part of the country was 

 most severe. Beyond the region of drought both 

 in the valley on the New Hampshire side and up- 

 on the fine green hills of Vermont to their very 

 top.^, we Saw and admired the then growing oat 

 fields. There wore many highly cultivated fields 

 about equal to our own — we saw no one field that 

 we thought better. 



The permeability and great strength of the 

 Vermont soil on both sides of the moutitains. 

 makes it better for an oat or potatoe crop than 

 any land we have ever seen. Immense crops of 

 both have this year been raised in llie north lial; 

 of that rslate — ^^enoiigh surplus to purchase all the 



Genesee flour that the Vermonters may wish to 

 use. Winter wheat is little cultivated in that 

 Slate ; and the spring wheat is so liable to attack 

 from blight or the weavil, that the farmers do well 

 not to risque many acres of wheat where the oat 



" potatoe crop is so certain. The soil of Ver- 

 mont, without manure, gives for several succes- 

 sive years fine crops of both oats and potatoes. 

 Peas also are easily raised, and are extensively 

 used for fattening pork. The Green IMouiiImIii 

 is in many places so fruitful in grass feed ili.it 

 cattle, horses and sheep are raised at about li:ilf 

 the labor and expense usually bestowed u|/on 

 them in the towns nearer to the seaboard in Mas- 

 sachusetts and New Hampshire. 



If the Brandon crop of oats have mounted up 

 to 150 or even 130 bushels to the acre, it will be 

 such a crop as has been seldom witnessed in this 

 or any other country. — Ed. Visitor. 



things is a full loss of 25 per cent, upon the iiirm- 



or plantetr who is culpable enough to pay it. 



Have you stabling and sliedsforall your stock? 

 If you have not, set to work and provide thein 



fore winter sets in. 



Dash ahead with your ploughing and get in 

 your small grain in good season. 



If you have a field that is beset with St. Johns- 

 uori, wild Carrot, Oxeye, or any other pest, 

 pl(in<;li in the weeds, or mow them down, before 

 they have time to ripen their seed. By so doing 

 we will ensure yon two things — a richer soil and 

 cleaner field next year — neither of which are to 

 be lightly thought of — American Farmer. 



Mr. Albe Morrill of Weare this year raised 

 a Squash which weighed one hundred and six 

 pounds, and which measured in circumference 

 six feet one and a half inches. Notice of a squash 

 weighing 130 pounds raised in Michigan is pub- 

 lished in the papers. 



Having seen statements in the newspapers 

 relative to the weight of Sugar Beets rising 

 from 7 to 9 and 12 pounds, we are induced to 

 notice three Sugar Beets raised by the Rev. Mr. 

 Tenney of Concord, which together weighed Ibr- 

 ty pounds, and the largest ot which weighed sev- 

 enteen pounds. 



Mr. Tenney's congregation is the West Parish, 

 which embraces the best farming portion of Con 

 cord : besides being an acceptable [ireacher, he 

 is decidedly one of the best liirmers of the to 

 lie has a mowing field on land which had been 

 regarded v\orlliless smoother and better than any 

 otiier field we have seen in the county. He has 

 only a few acres, but those acres are well cult 

 vated. The cow and pig which he keeps near 

 the ground of Ihe Agricultural Exhibition were 

 fully equal to the best that were exhibited for 

 premiums. 



Mr. Tenney's neighbor, 5Ir, I.,evi Hutchins, who 

 has raised this year three hundred bushels of car- 

 rots on one fourth of an acre of land, exhibited 

 at the Merrimack County Fair, Beets of nearly 

 Ihe size of those just named — also bunches o" 

 Onions and other inamiiiolh vegetables. Hi 

 brought to our office two while Carrots which 

 had grown to the size of large lK>els. Mr. H. is 

 more than eighty years of age ; a soldier of the 

 revolution. From little more than an acre culti- 

 vated by his own band he galhers Hnnually prod- 

 uce eipial in value to all raised on some turms of 

 fifty acres. 



Our obligations are due to Mrs. HcsE, wife of 

 James Hnse, Escj., and daughter of our veteran 

 friend Oliver \oyes, l<)r a fine sample of the 

 Sweet Water Grape : these grapes were produc- 

 ed this season on the high ground of Ilopkiiitoii. 

 The native grape is fiiund all over New Hamp- 

 shire — there are .several kinds of these of ecpially 

 fine flavor as the Isabella and other sidect kinds 

 cultivated with much care by artificial heat ; 

 these might be domesticated, and would annual- 

 ly yield abundance of the niost palatable fruit. 

 As an ornament for covering arbors and trellis 

 work the grape vine in itself is very beautitiil. 

 We thank our Hanover correspondent frir his 

 valuable essay on the cultivation of the grape in 

 this number of the Visitor; and we intend to 

 follow it up with other articles on the same sub- 

 ject. With little more than ordinary care and 

 labor, the tiirmers of the interior of New England 

 might add to their productions many kinds of in- 

 viting liuits with which to feast their own and 

 the appetites of their friends. A single peach or 

 plum tree, a solitary noble grape vine, is often an 

 oliject to attract the attention in the season of 

 bearing to a whole neighborhood. 



The Melons this season in all the north parts 

 of New England have been very fine. For a 

 most magnificent watermelon, equal in size to 

 the best Philadelphia melons, we are indebted 

 to our friend Foster of the Canterbury Third 

 Family. 



0;J*Are your wagons, carts, and implements 

 of husbandry of all sorts provided with suitable 

 places for protection ? If they are tiot, the;, 

 sliould be. Exposure to the weather of sucii 



Value of Salt as a Manure. — In reference 

 to the communication of S. L. G. of Saco, we 

 have learned incidentally that the United Society 

 at Canterbury have this year increased their crop 

 of potatoes, as they believe, one half, by the use 

 of sixteen bushels of common salt to the acre: 

 the salt was thrown over the grass ground one 

 year ago last spring, and had a good effect in in- 

 creasing the hay crop of that year. There can- 

 not be a doubt that salt has a great effect in re- 

 taining moisture in a dry season. 



THE MARKETS. 



From the Boston Evening Journal, Oct. 27. 



FLOUR.— There has heen a gnod demand throui;hout 

 the week, at n further slight improvement; the sales of 

 Genesee have been large at $6 3t a 6 37, and ^'fi 40 for 

 common brands, and Ji[6 -W- a 6 50 for fancy brands. 



GR.\1N.— About 50,000 hushels of Corn liiive arrived 

 since Saturday, and at the close of our repirt nearly all 

 sold ; White, 69 a 70c ; Vellow, 71 a 73c j and Round, 74 

 a 75c, according to quality ; Eastern Oats, 51c ; Southern, 

 49 a 56c per bush. 



HIDES.— Sale of 1000 Pernambuco, 12}c ; 3000 Porto 

 Cabello, I3ic per lb. 6 mos ; by auction, 3000 New South 

 Wales, green salted, 7Sc. 



HOPS.— Some 400 bales have reached the inspection 

 office this week, and found re iily purchasers at 15 a 1.5j|c 

 per lb. cash, which is an advance. 



MOLASSES.— The market is exceedingly dull, and 

 prices drooping. The private sales are light, and contined 

 to small parcels retailing descriptions. Haviuia. 21 a 22^0. 

 .50 hhds Cienftiegos Muscovado, 26c per gal. 6 mos. 



OtL. — The market is less firm t'or Linseed. American 

 is sellinL' at 105 a 106c ; no foreign oow in first hands. 



PROVISIONS.— The market is now supplied with new 

 Beef, and our quotations are fi.Yed tn conform to the sales 

 ot' new. Prices are lower than they have been for two 

 or three years, during which period a considerable loss 

 has been sustained e.ach year by packers. Pork is plenty 

 and dull. Public sale of 100 bills Western P. O I'nrk ;J6 ; 

 5U bbls chimes, »6 XI ; 18 t.bls clear, ordinary, «8 50 a 

 8 7,5 ; 40 do. Mess. g5 50 per bbl , I mos. 



SUGAR.— Sales of about 800 boxes Havanna brown, 7 

 a 8n ; 306 do. White, 9 i 10c ; 100 hhds Porto Rico, 6i a 

 7c per lb. 6 mos. 



TE \.— 'The late accounts trom China have caused an 

 advance of from 2 a 4c per lb. Good Souchong is selling 

 at 45c ; other kinds 3 a 4c per. lb. above last week's 



WOOL— There is a lull stock of Fleece 

 business, increxsing gradually as the seas^ 

 The sales of Merino have ranged from 30c for (iilled tn 

 45c for 5ne full blooded fleece. — N. V. Jour, of Com. of 

 l\'ednesday. 



PRICES OF FLOUR, 4.C. 



At New York, on the 25lh, Flour is firm; Genesee 

 sells freely at g6, and a good many sales of common 

 brands have been made since morning at g6 06 ; 400 bhls 

 Michigan sold at ^5 94; Georgetown Fleur isKC12a 

 25. 3S0O bu Southern Wheat sold at 125c. Corn is 

 lower. Jersey, to arrive, is offered at 68c. A parcel of 

 Northern B irlev sold at 63c, and another parcel of 1000 

 bu at 66c, «' ■■ 



steady 



lite an advance. 



BRIGHTON' M.VRKF.T.— Monday, Oct. 25,1841. 

 [Reported for the Diily Advertiser and Patriot.] 



AtmarkctSiOO Beef Cattle, 1704 Stores, 6700 Sheep, 

 and 970 Swine. 



PiiicES — Beef Cattle — A small advance was effected, 

 and we quote to correspond. First quality ,^5 25 a 5 75; 

 second quslity ,§4 25 a 5 00; third quality, JJS a 4. 



Barrelling Ca((/f— Choice lots of Mess C'altle were 

 taken at g425. We quote Mess, 84 a 4 25;-No. 1, »3; 

 No. 2, g2 50. " ' 



Stores— Tvio year old g3 a 12 ; three year old, ,J13 a 



Slteep — Dull, and prices low; we noticed sales at gl, 

 1 12, 1 25, 1 42. I 62. I 88, and §2 25. 



Swine — Siles quick at a small advance. Lots to ped- 

 dle, at Sic for Sows and a4>c for Barrows. At retail 4 i 



to Sic- ; 



NEW YORK C.-VTTLE MARKET— Oct. 25, 1841. 



At market, 1225 head of Beef Cattle, including 250 left ' 

 over last week ; 400 of which were from the South, and 

 the balance from this State ; and 3000 Sheep and Lamba. 



There was i slight improvement in the Beef market, 

 •iltheutjh the quality of a largo proportion was inferior. 

 S les were made of 1025 head at «4 60 a 6 75— averaging 

 S5 75 the inO lbs. 



Sheep a:i.l I.-inibs were neirlv xU sold. S!ii.c,. atgl 25 

 to )i-i; Lambs i'l to gi 50 each. 



