Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1869-12-17
Tor the Free Press and Times.
Tor the Free Prees and Times.
VAC gsssa a.,r,ei's Board Of Agriculture.
Prof Flint On .u3k--Col. B'iiier on Fruit
Prof ,4gassi= on FiSh6Teeding, &c.
pltrsrIF1n Mas De, & 1850

evening just too late TO attend the lecture tefore
the Massachusetts State Board of Agriculture,
by President Chaibourne. of the University Of
Wisconsin.
The immediate cause Of our detention, by the
way, was collision Of freight trains on the
Sullivan Road, by which we :" lost our time,
and were kept several hours upon the side
tracks of the Connecticut River Railroad,
watching for coming trains. If any person de-
sires to get clear idea of the advantages.
both to the travelling public and to the corpora
ton itself, Of running railroad trains on
the Vermont Central telegraphic, over the hap
hazard system Of former times, he has but to
start for Springfield and meet with two or three
hours detention somewhere to get the whole be-
nefit OF it made strikugly manifest.
But to return to the meeting of the Masss-
chusetts Board to attend which is the immediate
occasion of our trip here.
/ The Board consists of three members appoint
ed by the Governor and Council the President
of the Agricultural College, and one member sp.
pointed by each Of the thirty so-called County
Agricultural societies Of the State. which has
conformed to certain legal requirements The
Governor. Lieut. Governor, and Secretary Of the
/ Commonwealth are members er-efci9 Hon.
| Chas L Flint is the Secretary ami has the gen.
eral oversight of all its Affairs His Office is in
the State House at Boston. He Is the only sal
aried officer in connection with the Board, but
tire members are paid their actual expenses while
attending the meetings.
The Board holds two meetings Mt the State
House. and one Or two in the country each year,
and publishes a volume Of 600 to 800 pages of
transactions. which IS much sought for by the
farmers Of the State, and Others interested in
agricultural progress.
The programme for yesterday wss.--A lecture
on Salt and its uses in Agriculture, by the chem
st Of the Agricultural College. who was form
ery the New York State chemist at the Onou-
dags Salt Spring; discussion on mineral
manures; and the lecture before alluded to by
President Claiborne, on the Obstacles TO the
Progress Of Scientific Agriculture
President ChaIbourne was formerly pro-
fessor IN Williams College, and popular mem
Der of the Board from this County, and for some
time President Of the Agricultural College during
it, infancy
The programme for today was "a Lecture on
Dairy Farming. by Secretary and Professor
Flint '' Discussion on Dairy Stock to be open
Ell by Dr. George B. Loring;'' Lecture on
Fruits, their cultivation, preservation, and the
method, Of producing new and valuable yarie-
ties. be- Hon. Marshall P. wilder" discussion
to follow the lecture; and a lecture on Fish
breeding, by Professor Louis AgAss.z.
Professor Flint's lecture WIS upon milk and
the organs Of the secretory system. Aided by
the mos, elaborate and artistic drawings he Talk
ei an hour and half. and So interested bis au-
jeuce that it was with the utm1s: reluctance
that they consented to ls, him stop. Inieel they
did not consent, but in obedience To the pro
gramme he closed with the remark that the gues-
ton had often been asked him, vha; he could
md to say on the subject u Dairy Farming to
hyoably situated. new varieties mus; BE tried,
hut DO not give up. We are too oiteu discsur-
agei by unflyorib seasons We should make
large allowance for hckleues- of seasons. Thin
ming is a remedy for many ills. The frui; is
flirer, larger, and brings better price.
Pears properly thinuel bring - 50 Lushel
while those grown In adjoining orchards bring
Only - 3d. Apples Of the same varieties 20 Two
adjoining orcharis brought $3.50 aul - ed .
biuel Trees must not be permitted 90 bear be-
yaui their strength Baldwin apples IN -ht be
thiun,i s1 as 70 bear annually. which would he
much better FOR the tree. Improvement Of form,
color deor, and nonlisbility TO the depreciation
Of insects. blight. and mildew would result from
thinning Flowing and cultivation that i'm
pairs the roots is to be deprecated. Late yarie-
ties should have the best location: the earlier 10
not require H. Early pears should be gathered
as soon as they begin TO ripeu, while early al
pies should not be picked. but allowed TO fal.
we have noted 4 few Of the more important sug-
eesti6us. In MS Introductory he mentioned the
good gifts Of the Bounuful Giver Of all our tenn
porsl wants. and then spoke Of fruits As the .
0rsrf0ri1y Of Gods bounty.
Toe great error Of fruit culture he conceived .
to be the prevailing opinion among farmers that .
fruit like forest tree, might De left 20 take care
return a profit under such circumstances The
soil should be prepared with - much care as for
any other crop; 1t should be kept % a condition
Of fertiliiy-sul no other crop may be grown up
on the same gr5uni-graSs and grain must be
hei'in perpetual condemnation. There is no
such thing AS ine1hsustible fertility. Formerly
orchards bore well. which he attributed 10 the
protection Of forests When this protection was
Withdrawn they begun TO fail, sui cannot be
relied upon TO produce crops The influence Of
large bodies Of water Is favorable. Where un-
Of lectures. We entertain the opinion that II
the farmers. or even those who profess 10 be cow
doctors in our midst, had little Of the iuf1rms-
ZION conveyed in this lecture, il would he a saw
ing Of several thousand dollars 4 year 20 our
State
Dr. Lorins opened the discussion on Dairy
Stock in his iuimit4b,e manner, but as he IS 90
speak on that subject At our b irymen's meeting
At 81. Adams next month, where all who really
iesire to hear may, We refrain from masking any
report Of his remarks.
The veteran pomologist. Col. Wilder, entered
upon the discussion Of his theme with all the
real and enthusiasm Of q youth There is such
eryor Of love for his kind, aud for all nature, il
bis utterances, that We always experience the
utmost delight in sitting At his feet. No ABSTRACT
hat We can make will do his lecture justice, but
make up ten lectures as Is provided for in the
'ourse st the Agricultural College He had hal
DO difficulty in making ten lectures, but on the
,ther hand. very much in conieusng the mate
-iAl. Of which there Is sn abundance fr fifty. into
he space Of ten.
We are unsbe, for various reasons that it Is
lot necessary TO name here, 10 present our read
rs with even an abstract Of the lecture We ,
rope the time Is not far distant, however, when
he farmers of Vermont aud their sons may be
Ifordet an opportunity 10 attend such course
food cutivstors mulch the ground to protect the !
ruiz from bruising. Late varieties should re- {
main on the tree as long possible for tn frost.
liberalization, fruit houses, and various other
op'cs Of interest were spoken upon, but We have
lresdy exceeded our limits, and must pass them Z
" Discussion followed, during which Hon. A.
ioote Of WIiamstown exhibited large variety
seeding apples and pears grown by himself
Capt John d. Moore Of Concord said he had !
old grapes from two acres for $500 this year, n
nd got the money in his pocket Many speak L
r. have faith in fruit crops, yet DR.. Loring }
Aid they must be cultivated with much more a
SIRE; and he favored rco'ing up old orchards o
nj adopting garden culture. 4
Prof Agassizs lecture on f-h-brceiing WAS full i
{ interest. The professor is fluent lecturer. C
ef!ec, master Of the crayon, and brings the h
blackboard into frequent requisition He began a
y al.udIng to fsh as cheap and dispensable ST
rtole of food. All living beings grow by ap-
ropriating outside food adapted to their nature.
attic eat grass and convert it into meat, milk =,
de- horns. blood. &c. Man lives in a manner =
milar to other animals, and he must appropri- ,
e the food adapted to develop the full man. Of
Il those persons who, from fancy or prejudice Il
re restricted in their diet are but partially de
aioped. If there is anything that charscterizes :;
an it is his intellectual faculties. The brain y,
quires peculiar food. 1t is now certain. and :,
i chemists will tell you SO, that certain I,
mount Of phosphate should be introduced into - -
lie system if We would keep the brain in proper :,
ndilion. There is no fool which contains 50 I
rye proportion Of this, and which is SO easily -
as tsh. No people more need this T.
iment than ours. on account Of activity of -
ain But little more than thirty years has ::
apsed since il hiss been known how important ~
fish diet to restore the cerebral system. y
Most of our oSn food and that of our domes- y