Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1867-09-20

of hay per year, and in that way makes
nearly as much butter in January as in June,
tAfr.sTucker thought thatsin ordinary seasons
the last of the hay crop ought to be gathered
by the fourth of July. 1t ID better to cut
early and then cut another crop, much better
for the stock and no more exhaustive for the
land. 1t is a common theory that late cut
hay spends better than that which is cut
earlier, but the truth of the matter is that
stock will not eat any more of this late cut
hay than will suffice to keep them from
starving. saE s "A & -
II. c. Merriam of Boston thought that far
mers lost a good portion of their hay crop by
untimely harvesting and by improper cult
walton. No more land should be cultivated
than can well be cultivated. He expressed
himself strongly in favor of early cutting
both on account of the improved quality oil
the hay and the effect upon the land.
The meeting was much better attended
than the one on Tuesday evening, and the
discussion lasted until about half-past nine.
THE ANNUAL ADDRESS.
The annual address was delivered THURSDAY
by James b. Angel, President of the Univer-
sity of Vermont and the State Agricultural
College mt Burlington Mr. Angel is man
about forty years of age, slight in person
and much more youthful looking than Col
lege Presidents generally. He has none OF
the - intellectual stoop" that bends the
forms of scholars, and seen with his hat on
would he sooner taken for college student
than College President. The removal OF
his hat shows "A bald head and partly dispcls
the illusion Of youth Mr.. Angel is grad
uate of Brown University, was for seven
years Professor of Modern Languages in that
institution, was for six years editor of the
Providence Jotcrnai, and has been for one
wear President of the University at Burling-
ton He spoke entirely without notes, and
the hour which he occupied with his address
was II very agreeable one to his auditors.
The subject of the address was 81 Some OF
the Relations of Education to Agriculture,
and his treatment Of this theme simple,
practical and forciblc. He commenced by
abiding TO what has been already done for
the farming class by the New England com
mon school system of education. The mind
has been awakened, the faculties cultivated
and general balance of character has been
secured in this way which could never have
been obtained hut for our common schools.
The first thing in making farmer is to make
"a man. and. so far common schools
and our home education do that, they do we'll
and all that they can. But there is some
thing more necessary, especially in counter
acting llt Itiltidl ibpHltipll tl
that exists among farmers sons. They have
a vague longing to get away from the home
farm. without knowing where they are going
or what they are going 10 do Large towns
and cities seem to them TO possess all the in
ducements for youth and activity. and they
rush away from their country homes without
knowing where they are going, what dangers
they are to encounter or what fortune they
will have. The farms need these young men
with all their activity and energy, and it
should he the study of the farmers how their
home influences can be SO arranged as II de
tcrninc their sons To follow in the footsteps
of their fathers in devoting their lives u ag-
ricuturc. 1t IL not enough TO stimulate the
mind. for mental stimulation alone will en-
courage the restless feeling. but the charac-
ter must he developed and the whole man
kept in harmony with his mental stinula-
ton
But above and beyond all that has been
done OF may be done by common school edu-
cation and home influences, there is need of
some specific education or training to fit
young men for agricultural work. When
Sir Joshua REYNOLDS was asked with what he
mixed his paints he replied = With brains,
SIR. 80 and the great present need of agricul-
tural labor i t. have brains mixed with it.
1t has been a commonly held idea that no
knowledge was necessary for successful farm
in1. but the world is beginning TO realize the
fallacv Of that idea. and u see that iutelli-
gence can nowhere be invested to better ad-
vantage than in the soil Our Agricultural
societies. State and county are aiming really
a. the promotion of intelligence among their
members ami the public generally. The dis
cussion~ that are held during fairs. and the
general interchange of thought and expert
tncc furnish very valuable means OF in
crcasing the intelligence of the agricultural
community. But, with all the good results
of agricultural fairs and discussions. some
thing more definite and tangible II needed to
educate young men for farmers. And this
need i supplied by our recently established
Agricultural Colleges The speaker. IN this
connection. alluded 10 the prejudice that has
been entertained by farmers against what
thew call = book farming This prejudice
had not been without reason and foundation
for farmers had in MANY instances been i'm
posed upon. Bur the very fact that they
had been thus imposed on was strong ar
-uncnt for the necessity and advantage OF
increasing their intelligence and their Scien-
tiic knowledge of practical agriculture. The
great question with the farmer Is whether
science can make his farming more easy or
more profitable. Ii can do each of those
things. and the precise aim of Agricultural
Colleges is L. show young men how they can
farm easier aud make more money by it.
The farmer ought certainly t. know how and
why his plants grow. ana this is what is to
lie taught. \ few young men in every town
educated to know the WINS and wherefores
OF agricultural growth and production will
be cf immense and valuable service to the
system Of successful agriculture. and To the
country There need be no fear that their
more men know the more intelligently they
comprehend their duties end the more earn
est they are i'll dischargng them. \ true
man never questions the dignity of labor, and
never rises above it. Ii is only brainless
fops who think that work Is beneath them
while it is really they who are beneath the
work.
The various points of the address were well
and familiarity illustrated by the speaker
and. Il whole. it was admirably adapted
10 awaken thought and enlivcn the minds OF
those who heard it, Practical rather than
rhetorical, plainly forcible rather than bril-
liant with theories. it was Just what the far
niers ought to hear. and what cannot fail t.
do them good
INTERESTING DISCUSSION IRON WOOL.
The regularly assigned question for dis
cussion at the farmers meeting on Thursday
evening was, - Wheat, and how it can be
best raised in Vermont. The wool growers
however. were anxious to have the wool
question discussed, and at the close of the
meeting Wednesday evening it was voted to
have an hours discussion upon wheat, and
then give the balance of Thursday evening
to the wool topic When the meeting was
called to order last evening by President
Gregory. it was concluded to discuss the
wool question first. and little later in the
evening it was concluded to postpone the
wheat question altogether.
F. II Griswold of West Salisbury was the