Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1855-11-16
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Bv a., a. WALTON.
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Legislative Agricultural soci-
ety.
Trrsp.r EvrNINe. Nov. 6.

or Fletcher IN the chair. The Secretary Oe-
ing absent, Mr.. Frisbie Of Middletown. was
elected Secretary pro ten. The Chairman
then made the following short and very ap-
propriate Address to the meeting:
Gentlemen,
1t has been suggested to me that il wa.
the dictate of custom and propriety that some
remarks should be made from the Char, at
the opening session of the Agricultural So
ciety. You will allow me to say, that since
this suggestion was made, have had but
very little uninterrupted time in which /
could bestow any thought upon this subject.
! trust that no remarks are necessary to
awaken interest in the subject which enga-
ges our attention this evening 1t is a happy
consideration that Agriculture is getting to
be recognized as the great comma ndng in
tcrest of the State; as lying at the founda-
ton OF all others. 1t is one of the most
hopeful characteristics of our times, that the
universal mind Of the agricultural world IS
stirred as never before Philosophy and sci
cnce have come down from their high places,
and have taken manual labor by the hand,
and they walk together in good agreement.
The practice Of agriculture, and the philos-
ophy of agriculture, ire now matters Of uni
versal interest. Men are asking as never
before. Tor the how aud the why and the
wherefore. BY this process Of observation
and inquiry, many in humble life, who were
never taught from books, not even the alpha
bet Of science, who never gained admission
into the schools of science, learn the great
laws Of nature. BY association, and free
conversation, improvement has been greatly
advanced. Many minds, by concentration
OF rays have thrown much lgh, upon this
subject Much is said Of scientific farming,
and the prevalent idea seems to be that to
accomplish this, one must 90 through the
schools must be trained aud taught by the
profoundly learned | am aware that science.
technically, s a part branch of human
knowledge, which has been syslematzed. its
principles and rules nicely defined. as chein-
istry, botany &c. But in an enlarged sense
science is the observation of nature. In my
view, many men, who hardly know the letters
of book, but ore active thinkers, and nice
observers OF nature are scientific farmers.
u has been common to dccry the farmers,
as stupid, pIodding race satisfied to Jog on
in The steps of their fathers, and averse to i'm
proycmenis such as are going forward in
other departments, and professions. | deny
the allegation; and regard the reproach with
the contempt which it merits. The improve
men,- which have been accomplished in az
ricnlIure, are IN no respect inferior to those
effected in what are termed the higher pro.
fessions Does it suffer by comparison with
the medical art When we look at the num-
berless patent nos,rums, which decorate The
newspapers we might be led TO infer that the
reign of disease was broken up, and the elk
lr of Immortality was discovered, but human
life is much shorter than in that age when
we hear nothing of patent medicine or med
ical degrees. Is it better with the law p
The most brilliant achievement of that art,
!
get camel but whether the lawyer can
get himself, or his client, Through the eye
of a needle" | would not make invdious
comparisons, bnt desire 10 vndicate the pro-
fession of agriculture from the aspersions
thrown upon it, and to contribute my might,
to place it in that rank which it Justly mer-
its. ! am anxious TO assert the dignity and
Importance of pursuit which | regard a.
mong the most honorable, as II is among the
most innocent and useful in life. Its import
ance is readily assented to, but this assent is
too often merely formal, not the deep CON
vction which should prevail Throughout, the
community; and especially among those
who, gifted by talents or station, are mould
ing human deslinies, and forming the eonji-
ton of society. That class of men should
not merely come on deck some sunshiny day
TO admire the ship with her streamers flying
but should know every rope in the ship, aud
be ready to pull at them. But, Gentlemen,
am keeping you too long FROM more inter-
esing aud important business. The objects
Of our inquiry, the subjects for consideration
and discussion, are various, embracing every
thing connected with the cultivation of the
earth. every branch of husbandry, and rural
and domestic economy. ! trust there will be
unrestrained freedom of communication.
After the Address of Lieut.. Gov Fletcher
was concluded, many gentlemen from differ
cnt parts Of the State discussed various sub
lects relating to farming, until quarter past
. o'clock. Mr. spague of Montpelier spoke
Of the effects of Guano and recommended
lis use. Mr. Barnes of Rutland gave his
experience in retaining swamp lands, which
very much interested the audience, and
should his remarks on that subject be retain
ed by those who heard him, some valuable
and very much needed information might be
diiiused in this State. His practice had been
TO mix the muck and subso, and in so doing
he had reclaimed lands almost valueless and
got them IN condition to produce very large
crops Of grain and grass
Mr.. Billings of Mountholly made some
remarks upon draining lands Leland
OF Baltimore, upon compost manures-Mr
Smith Of Shelburne inquired whether it
would not be more profitable for the farmer
TO sell his hay than 10 feed 1t out to stock.
Mr.. Bars;ow thought the farmer would real
ize the most profit by selling bis hay at the
present prices. Senator Hotchkiss thought
differently, aud said that his own practice
had been to feed to his stock all the hay he
could raise, ana had Dough, good deal oil
hay and he had pursued this course TO pro-
cure all the manure he could for his land
lie said he had raised two hundred aud thir-
ty-iour bushels of ears Of corn on an acre
of worn on, land; soil sandy loan, seventy