Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1845-02-21
SETH CAKES, Secretary.
TO the citizens of Washington Count,

10 me QUEENS OF W GShtngt0n County
Your attention is respectfully solicited TO tho
present condition of the various branches and in
erests Of agriculture, within the county, and the
adoption of soule measures for the Improvement
of this condition. AS a most important measure
for the above named purpose, your attention is
licted to a county association, the most efficient
mode of making these Improvements, by awaken
ing and fostering spirit emulous to excel amongst
the farming population OF the county.
viii any one doubt, upon mature refectiou,)
the expedlency, utility and public benefit to be de-
rived from society for the above purpose, if con-
Quoted with proper discretion /? A society, the
principal measures Of which might be, annual
meetings, for the choice of officers and the APP
pointment of various committeeman annual adj
dress to the members of the society-annual re-
ports (mnde by previously appointed commiuees)
on the different branches Of farmng-(these re-
ports might be the means Of diffusing much valua-
BILE agricultural information. AN annual exhibi-
ton Of stock, productions and implements with
moderate premiums offered as stinlulants TO the
best success, awarded only condition of full
statements of each method and process to be made
public for the benefit of all and any other meas
ure calculated to promote and diffuse agricultural
information the surest means ofmprovng "the
mind and the SOIL" and the productions thereof.
Tbe present is an important and interesting in
the progress of Improvement in farming as n SCI
ence well an occupation, as is demonstrated
| by greatly increased attention to the subject by
the first men of the nation. And shall we madly
close our eyes and ears to every sight and sound
| Of Improvement, which il going in various
parts of the country, and through sothful Indfer-
ence stand still. while others making progress
in the onward march of improvement, and make
no efforts to initiate the example of our more sue
cessful neighbors In our own state, it is said,
| Caledonia county produces better butter and
cheese than we do aud Orange produces better
beef and pork; Windsor, Rutland and Addison
grow finer wool and Chittenden produces, at
least, much better fruit, [as we raise a sufficient
quantity of applcs but mostly so poor that those
who consume them have the worst of it. Ifthese
assertions are true, il is not so much owing to de-
iciency of soil or climate, as 10 negligence and in
attention of our farmers. Be these things as they
may, there is, doubtless, much need of improve
ment. The soil of this county is supposed to be
about as fertile and productive any in the State;
doubtless, then, it is in our power to make mate
rial Improvement in the quality of almost all kinds
of our produce. Let us do what can then by
way of association in this work Of agricultural inn
provement and reform, in which every inhabitants
has more or less interest.
Perhaps the exertons of society may be use
full if directed to the object OF ascertaining the
cause and preventive, cure, of the dry rot" in
the potaoe-crop which lately appeared among US,
and to this part of the country most alarming
and formidable evil, the effects of which were so
generally felt as to leave US but little hope being
exempt from 1t 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, attainable
one. And here too cannot an association be more
efficient than the present amount OF individual ex
erton or at least, be the means of encouraging
and rewardiDg each successful experiment aud
making il known to all
Bnt we cannot have permanent and useful So
ciety without the exercise Of some degree of public
spirit-some exertion and labor-some expense
although it is believed we can, have one without
anything that we might call a sacrifice. Il will be
recoected that the Legislature, at the session Of
lS43, passed special "act" 10 encourage such
cletes, l. e., one in each county in the state, giving
them all needful corporate powers for their object,
and appropriating sum Of money according to
/ the population of each county, not exceeding 81
| 900, for the whole State !: Provided each society
raises an equal sum to be distributed as premiums.
w ashngton county, under the act, would be enti-
tied to about $3.50, provided we raise AZ mu:h
more, which would make $320-a premium fund
sufficient to be useful and efficient, if distributed
with discretion. Now, is there not in all the
towns OF this county, a sufficient number who are
ready to club together to make this mere triling
tax-is there not, say $40 citizens whO would free
ly pay 25 cents annually, for so noble and impor-
tant purpose and greater number would les
sen each individual tax. As the present time is
ION many accounts) favorable TO action on this
subject it is to be hoped that the citizens Of the
country, will give it an immediate and careful con-
sderation in all of its hearing on the present and
future welfare of this community. Should the
prominent and influential men of the several towns
think favorabIy of these humble suggestions, will
| they take the trouble to ascertain the views Of
their neighbors on the subject let it become a
topic of conversation and examination as nothing
can be done without the concurrence and support
of pnblic opinion; after some consideration may
we not hope FOR public meeting Of the citizens
of this important and interesting project
| Feb is, Is45. ]. w. 4.