Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1871-02-09

pie, Boston, on Tuesday, Feb. 9TH, was
very largely attended. At 10 o'clock. the
meeting was called to order by DIR. George
3. Loring of Salem, President Of the So
oiety. Upon taking the chair, DR.. Loring
proceeded to address the assembly, as fol-
hwss
ADDRESS OF DIR. Il0RING.
Gentlemen, is naturally gratifing
TO us who are interested in this associa-
ton, to realize that thus far no disap-
pointnent nor discouragemont has fallen
npon our efforts in developing the busl-
ness of agriculture in New England. This
society, standing as it does, the ally OF
similar institutions in the several New
England States, has thus far prospered
beyond the expectations of its founders.
Aud sfter having made its annual visit
10 each Stats over which its organization
ezteuds, it received last year most cor
dial welcome for secoud time, in that
State where it commenced one more
rouud of exhibitions. Ir is indeed graft
~ iug to know that it has secured an
honorable portion among its companions,
sud hat it's Efforts to the development o,
agriculture have been crowned with sue
oess. IL is not easy, l am aware, to e4ti
mate tho precise amount of benefit derived
from any one of these many agenoie.
which are now employed in the work OF
enlarVipg and improving the various
bran ohes of agriculture in our day. That
there is progress we are confident. The
evidences OF this lie all around us. And
we have TN undoubted right to claim q
large share of the work for all those
organizations which stimulate the mental
and physical forces, and bring us into
healthy competition with each other. We
cannot estimate, it is true, at too high q
value, the influence of all the improved
methods of cultivation, of general farm
management, and of transportation by
which we are surrounded. The introduc.
ton Of machinery of every description
has almost incidentally multiplied the
forces which are applied to the land,
making a Briareus of every competent
isOorer, who has substituted modern
power for the strength of a single arm.
The introduction of chemical investiga.
ton into the elements OF the soil, and the
application Of fertilizers, has carried us
Ear on the way, we trust, to more accu
rate and economical cultivation. And
there Dan be no doubt that the applica-
ton OF the laws of breeding, to the pro-
iuctiou of animals for specific purposes,
has placed within the reach of every far
msr animals adapted to bis soil, and cli-
mate. and mode of husbandry, and mar
kets. Aud 80 we have constantly i'm
proved moving machines, and more hoes.
and ploughs, and tedders and horse rakes,
With abundant opportunity for i'm
provemeut still we have the drainage for
the wise farmer to apply wherever such a
process is judicious aud proper; we
have condensed fertilizers to tempt us
away from our barnyards with promises
Of easier and more economical enriching
Of the soil we are supplied with new va
rieties of plants, and with ingenious vege-
table combinations; and whenever an OBJ
stacle arises, quick aud persistent at
tempt is made to overcome it. The practi-
cal endeavor of our age, in the most uni
versal calling of mankind, is worthy of
all admiration. And the institutions,
whether they be societies, or clubs, or
schools, or colleges, which cultivate the
taste up to the point of demanding, and
the skill up to the point of supplying, the
best cultivated landscape, or the most
iuXurlant garden, or the Ialresu nelu, or
the most beautiful flower, or the most
symmetrical animal, have done much not
only to develop the wealth of a people,
but to open tie way for all the comforts
and refnements of lie. They are the
schools of nature, in which all the calm
and substantial faculties are strengthened,
and they are schools of art in which the
eye may be attuned to the highest concep-
lions of beauty. The step from nature to
art is not a long one. The natural love
of the one means a cultivated love of the
other. An intimate knowledge of the one,
lesds directly to an intimate knowledge
Of the other.
Not, however, to q reaIizatios Of what
We really possess, but to untiring investi-
cation into what ia possible, are we
brought by these institutions. The thirst
Cor knowledge, which was confined to but
few half century ago, has now become
universal and raging. Every owner of a
farm is eager in his inquiries with regard
to the capacity of that farm, Has he q
bog ?--the question il how must eoonomi-
cally to drain it. and how most profitably
TO use it. Has he bed ~ clay the in.
quiry is how to molly sud warm IT, Has
be sandy loam ?-he Ok d. NJ for the
beat means of bringing " iut" substantial
fertility. Has he youm crrh rd hi.
searches through all the rD.'nS nt science
and the records of expe'iaI.ce IA a.e"rtaiD
how TO bring it to profitntl,' frnit"ge il
possible. Has he an old orchard he
calculates with dispassionsto Judgment
the value of the encountered land it occu-
pies, as compared with the same acres free
and open TO his cultivating hand He
surveys the various fertilizers which lie
about him, muck in the swamp and on
the hillside, manure in his barnyards,
artificial fertilizers III the markets, and
never rests until he hts satisfied his mind
with regard to the hes' use Re can make
Of them.
The intellectual activity which has
bsen reused into ACTON by the raricultur-
al education of the dGy ia Ill its various
forms, and by the agricultural necessities
of the times, must Eventually lead to a
larger and more definite agricultural pros
perry. l know we often fall into error.
Bnt TO long as the enquiry goes on we
SahA % auVhnciuG tNWHEGS rec sound re-
suit. Aud l listen With increasing inter.
sat 10 the discussions If these practical
men who, having learned by experience
how to restore impoverished lands to
profitable fertility; or how to create Nv
artificial impregnaticn an improved va.
riety of corn, or grape of aurpa ss4na
d'vor; or how to bring their fiooks and
herds TO perfection or how to STAY
the ravages of disease among plants
OF apimsl-; or how to occupy the mar
krts with their products; or how to con-
struot the highways along which we trav-
II from town to town and from farm TO
arm; or what railway system is best
.depf'd TO the wants of an agricultural
aomu'uni'y; / listen with increasing in.
terest to these discussions, and with ad.
Diration Of the sagaoity and good sense
which are applied 10 tie final adjustment
Of such questions in the popular mind.
am sure that we are rapidly solving
many difficult problems by the inyestiga.
tions OF practical men, and that we are
the way for an acceptance Of
the best scientific laws. by charging and
the general mind through the
&c \.