18B1. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



491 



For the New England Farmer. 

 ITOTBS BY THE TV AY. 



Messrs. Editors : — The season is now past, 

 and the harvest nearly ended, and the farmer can 

 sit down and "count the cost," and know how the 

 debt and credit columns stand, in an agricultural 

 point of view. I think the Green Mountain farm- 

 ers who have made a wise and prudent use of the 

 capacity and means of which they are possessed, 

 will be well compensated for their labors the past 

 season. The vegetable growth has been heavy, 

 and the crops well secured. The hay crop, par- 

 ticularly in north-eastern Vermont, was very 

 bountiful in quantity, and good in quality ; the 

 result in part of the fine covering of snow — the 



floor man's manure — favored our Green Hills the 

 ast winter, and the heavy rains, and freshets 

 which followed in the spring. 



The grain harvest was very good, notwithstand- 

 ing the appearance and attacks of the fly or louse, 

 which undoubtedly did considerable injury in sap- 

 ping the juices which otherwise would have en- 

 tered the grain or seed. Oats and wheat were 

 most infested by this insect. Of the less cultivat- 

 ed grains, as rye, barley, and buck and India 

 wheat, the season has been favorable, and the 

 yield good. Indian corn is particularly heavy in 

 growth — the kernel full and hard — the result of 

 the fine September weather with which we have 

 been favored. To this date, (October 9th,) no 

 frosts have occurred to kill even the garden veg- 

 etables or vines. Potatoes, which now are being 

 gathered in, are yielding well, though hardly so 

 bountifully as last year. From 150 to 200 bush- 

 els to the acre of common potatoes, or Pink eyes, 

 I think will be about an average yield. 



So you may rest assured, Messrs. Editors, that 

 in consideration of the bountiful harvests secur- 

 ing and secured, the late demand for wool, an ar- 

 ticle of export upon which many Vermont farm- 

 ers to some extent depend, and the large supplies 

 of beef still in the country, that the Green Moun- 

 tain Boys will ''still live," notwithstanding the 

 cries of "War, and hard times," if but to assist in 

 prosecuting the war, to save our government from 

 an inglorious defeat, and harder times than we 

 have as yet experienced. 



A very fair test of the thrift and prosperity of 

 our farming communities, may be witnessed in 

 our County and Town Fairs. Wherever the mass 

 of the people are doing and feeling well, the one, 

 by the way, a very sure consequent of the other, 

 the Agricultural and Industrial exhibitions of the 

 place, if properly conducted, will be marked with 

 success. Such has been the case, I am happy to 

 say, in regard to the late fairs of Caledonia Co. 



The first, that of the regular Agricultural Soci- 

 ety of the county which was held at St. Johnsbu- 

 ry, September 17t,h and 18th, was well attended, 

 especially on the second day, and the exhibition 

 very good. In the number, as well as the quality 

 of the cattle, quite an improvement was noticea- 

 ble over some of its former shows. Many fine 

 oxen were on the ground, and a good show of 

 other cattle. The exhibition of horses was good 

 — a number of fine specimens of that noble ani- 

 mal being exhibited. The blood was principally 

 of the Morgan stock. 



The shov/ in the Floral department was hardly 

 up to the standard of former years. The continued 



demands by our volunteers upon the labors and 

 efforts of the ladies, may have had its influence 

 upon this department. They did well, however, 

 and their interest and efforts are appreciated. 



The "Caledonia County Farmers' Club" held 

 its second annual Fair at Lyndon, October 2d. 

 This is a new society, organized more particular- 

 ly to accommodate the people of northern Cale- 

 donia, interested in Agricultural and Industrial 

 exhibitions. The society awards diplomas, in- 

 stead of cash premiums ; the necessary funds to 

 defray the expenses, which are consequently light, 

 being raised by merabei-ship subscriptions. The 

 thousand and one humbugs resorted to by many, 

 if not most of our agricultural societies, in order to 

 make them "self-supporting," are thereby avoid- 

 ed, and the people much better satisfied. Thus 

 far it has been very successful in its exhibitions, 

 and the interest manifested in its behalf is in- 

 creasing. 



The Fair the 2d inst. was a decided success. 

 Nearly 800 cattle were on the ground, 650 of 

 which were oxen. These oxen came upon the 

 ground in town-teams, each attached to a large 

 wagon, and accompanied by martial music — mu- 

 sic fitting the times — thus forming a very inter- 

 esting feature of the Fair. The Lyndon team 

 numbered 104 yoke ; Burke, 64 ; Kirby, 40, and 

 nearly the same from Sutton, Wheelock and St. 

 Johnsbury. 



The other departments were well repi'esented, 

 especially that of vegetables, and the Ladies' or 

 Floral Hall. The vegetables were of extra size, 

 and a verv large number of them on exhibition, 

 speaking well for the farmers and gardeners of 

 the county. 



The Ladies' Hall was full to overflowing, 80 

 much so that it was impossible to show many of 

 the articles to advantage. Many of the speci- 

 mens of embroidery, needle-work and painting 

 were truly meritorious, such as would do honor 

 to more experienced fingers. Care as well as 

 skill is demanded by the fine arts, a fact which 

 our young friends should bear in mind. 



The address v/as delivered by Hon. Thomas 

 Bartlett, of Lyndon ; his subject was, "The Dig- 

 nity of Human Labor." It was energetic, prac- 

 tical, a'ld well received. Our agricultural ad- 

 dresses are of incalculable value, and I am glad 

 to see that they are becoming more general. The 

 number at the Fair was estimated at 5000, which 

 bespeaks of its interest and success. 



I. W. Sanborn. 



GYPSUM. 

 If you can procure gypsum — plaster of Paris — 

 sprinkle a small quantity every morning over 

 your cattle stalls. It is a good absorbent of am- 

 monia, and consequently tends not only to econo- 

 mize a most valuable element of vegetable nutri- 

 tion, but to sweeten and purify the air. The gen- 

 eration of ammonia in stables, and other confined 

 situations, is not unfrequently the cause of dis- 

 ease, and should be prevented. Copperas water 

 sprinkled over the floors and surface of cattle- 

 yards, has a still more sanitary effect. It is a 

 powerful deodorant, and should be liberally used 

 about out-buildings, especially in hot weather. 



