Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1845-02-28

branches and interests Of Agriculture,
within the county, and the adoption of
some measures for the improvement of
this condition. AS a most important
measure for the above named purpose,
your attention is solicited to a county as
ISOLATION, as the most efficient mode Of
making these improvements, by awaken
ing and fostering spirit emulous 10 ex-
Gel amongst the farming population of the
county.
viii any one doubt upon mature re-
Fiction the expediency, utility and pub
lie benefit to be derived from society for
the above purpose, if conducted with
proper discretion A society, the princi-
pal measures Of which might be, annual
meetings, for the choice of officers and
various commitees-an annual address TO
the members of the society-annual re-
ports (made by previously appointed COM
mttees) on the different branches Of farm
ing-[these reports might be made the
means of difl'usng much valuable agricul-
tural information an annual exhibition
of stock, productions and implements with
moderate premiums offered as stlmulonts
to the best success, awarded only on con-
dition of full statements of each method
and process to be made public for the
benefit of all and any other measure cal
culated to promote and difluse agrcultur-
al information as the surcst means of i'm
proving the mind and the soil" and the
productions thereof The present is an
important and interesting era in the pro-
gress Of improvement in farming as sci
ence as well as an occupation, rs is de-
monstrated by a greatly increased atten
ton TO the subject by the first men Of the
nation. And shall VIC madly close our
ears to every sight and sound of improve
ment, which is going on in various parts
Of the country, and through slothful in
difference, stand still while others are
making progress in the onward march of
improvement, and make no efforts 10 imi-
tate the example Of our more successful
neighbors In our own State, it is said,
Caledonia county produces better butter
and cheese than we do ane Orange pro-
duccs better beef and pork; Windsor,
Rutland and Addison grow finer wool !;
and Chittenden, at least, produces much
better fruit, Gas we raise a sufficient guam
tty of apples, but mostly so poor that
those who consume them have the worst
Of it.) If these assertions are true, it is
not so much owing TO the deficiency Of
soil or climate, as to negligence and mat
tenlion of our farmers. Be these things
as they may, there is, doubtless, much
need of Improvement. The soil Of this
county is supposed to be about as fertile
and productive as any in the State ;
doubtless, then, it is in our power to MAKE
material improvements in the quality OF
almost all kinds Of our produce. Let us
do what we can, then, by way of associa-
ton in this work of agricultural improve
ment and reform, in which every inhabi-
tant has more or less interest.
Perhaps the exertions Of Society may
be useful, if directed to ascertaining the
cause and preventive, or cure, of the ''dry
rot" in the potatoo crop which lately APP
peared amongst us, and to this part OF
the country a most alarming and formida-
BILE evil, the effects of which were so
generally felt, as to leave us but little
hope Of being exempt from it in years to
come. And then, again, the subject Of
increasing our wheat crop, equal to home
consumption, is considered by all as an
important one, and, by many, as an attain
able one. And here too cannot an asso-
citation be more efficient than the present
amount Of individual exertion or, al
least, be the means OF encouraging and
rewarding each successful experiment and
making it known to all II
But we cannot have a permanent and
useful society without the exercise of some
degree of public spirit-some cxertion
and abor-some expense; although it is
believed we can have one without any
thing we might cali sacrifice. 1t will be
recellected that the Legislature at the ses-
sion of 1913, passed special "act' to
encourage such societies, i. G. one in each
county in the State, giving them all need
full corporate powers for their object, and
appropriating a sum of money according
to the population Of each county, not ex-
ceeding $4,000 for the whole State :
Provided, each Society raise an equal sum
to be distributed as premiums. Wash
ington county, under this act, would be
entitled TO abont $l60, provided we raise
as much more, which would make $500
"a premium fund sufficient to be useful
and efficient, if distributed with dscre-
ton. Now, is there not in all the towns
of this county, sufficient number who
are ready to club together TO make this a
mere trling .tax-is there not, say Gao
citizens who would freely pay 25 cents
annually, for so noble and important a
purpose? and greater number would
lessen each individual tax. AS the pres
ent time is ION many accoqnts) favorable
to action on this subject, it is to be hoped
that the citizens Of the county will give it
an immediate and careful consideration in
all its bearings on the present and future