Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1869-11-19
agricultural.
Board of agriculture.


1t says.
Our paper oflast week contained a some
what detailed account OF the recent meet
inc of the Board of Agriculture at Ban
gor, the length of which precluded US
from giving, rs it WAS our intention to
have done, some remarks relative To the
aims and result of the same.
The meeting was a novelty, even to
the older members of the Board. Ever
since its first organization, the sessions
have always been held in this city, dur
ing the winter season; and to meet in q
different place, ut different time OF the
wear, and under different law, seemed
TO make strangers of the members of the
Board at once. They were off the track.
Few knew what wouldbe the character OF
the session, and were unprovided with
topic or report" while the talking
members hardly got their mouths open
until the last day of the Convention,
"Great bodies move slow and hy the
time the Board GOT fairly to work it was
time 10 leave Tor home Then again
there was evidently some baShlOlneSs on
the part of the practical, hard handed
farmers Of The Board, and they rcfuscdto
occupy much time during the meetings,
especially when the scientific members
werv present. The latter, on the other
hand, seemed sometimes 10th "a talk for
tear OF exciting the keen criticism of
thoughtful, observing, practical men,
which would be very likely not To agree
in All particulars with the opinions and
statements of college professors.
In conseq ueucc of all this ''ncwness,
want of acquaintance, and lack OF har-
mony among the elected and appointed
members, there was little awkward
nesS,-no; unexpected which belonged
purely to the late meeting. and which we
presume Will not be noticeable ~ any sub
sequent session.
The meeting at Bangor was the first
ever held under the new law. approved
March lst, to secure harmony of action
between the Agricultural College and
the Board OF Agriculture, but 50 far -
We could Judge from The proceedings We
failed 20 see wherein greater harmony be-
tween the two bodies had been secured
than by the former law. True, the secre.
tary of the Board was there ~ = Trustee
Of the College, the professors of the Col
lege were there as members orthe Board.
and The students Of the College were
there to take q part in the exercises, and
10 i>tcuto the discussion >tii,, The action
Of the Board was no more harmonious"
il.u az some previous session. the Sccge-
tary impaired 70 the Board no additional
information in consequence othi couEcc-
ton with the College, and the members at
large, unacquainted, * some OF them
were with their duties. seemed in fact, to
add very little strength or interest 10 tie
sessions ofthc Convention MANY OF the
regular members o; the Board. expecting
but little would De required orthcM, and
surprising the ,ime would hc occupied ~
the newly appointed members at large"
o. 10y gentlemen from abroad, did not
prepare themselves for speaking
when they loGud the former were there
hut a single dSy. and The latter not at all,
could hardly be pressed into service At
the eleventh hoar The attendance of
farmers generally, from whom much of
the talking was expected, wa>ycry small
hence the meetings los, much of the inter
c>j :, was hoped they would exhibit. and
there was AL evident want Of d,rcctuc>>
and force ~; only IN The discussions, Jut
"a ;le genoa. Zone and character OF Ia,
various sessions
w can but thjak a mistake was made
ia tie framing OF The new law. ~ which
The members are O, gcccjycuo compcu,a-
to-. Tor .'t.me and service, rendered. and
on.y pay f.r necessary >pensc,. l, don't
sound we'll and !, !, a provision of t!.e
Ew Jha; whoever suggested or made Il,
should be ashamed o. Men won'. work
tor no.hirg. auIthe State don wantthem
to. r The services Of members of The
Boar! are worth any,hing-ii iLeiI time,
10, only In attendance 40 the sessions. bu,
il preparing papers o. addresses 70 be
presented g, these sessions l. worth any
thing, It should De paid for; and wc are
no. ~ aware Of the fact that the State
has ever expressed an unwil.ingness 10
pay any of It's servants. II has aPProp-
rated twenty thousand do!lars To- pay it.,
Board 90 Education. and we don't believe
J, = uc;u enough Il compel men in
another direction OF necessary laUor to
perform that labor Tor nothing. Ifit is,
men will surely not do it. The law is
wrong in this particular. and unless il Is
m..de right, the agricultural interests OF
the State viii suffer, Tor good men will
not accept positions Is members of the
Board Of Agriculture, without pay. They
may have the good OF the cause at heart.
but there is some SeliShness left in the
world vet.
The Board failed TO take any action
while in session at the College. which
cvinccd in the least direction that il was
designed to labor in connection with that
Institution. or that by the new law under
which 1t was in operation, any additionaI