Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1871-06-15
Proceedings OF the Vermont Board
of Agriculture at It's Session at
Brandon, June and o, 1871.
THURSDAY AFTERNOON.

Judge Ezra June, Vice.PresidenS OF III
Brandon Farmers Club, was called
preside, and opened the meeting, intr
duoing President Angel of the Universit
of Vermont and State Agricultural Go
lege. and of the State Board of Agricu
ture, to the chair.
Judge June then made brief salut,
tory address, welcoming the board
Brandon, and to the Inequalities of IL
Brandon Farmers and Mechanics Gu
The Judge spoke of the spirit of the time
urging the substitution, in a degree, of
practical education. based on nstur,
science, for the classical curriculum {
the colleges. This spirit Is psnetratin
to all classes of the community, and Their
Is also a growing demand for scientifi
instruction, which is extending to tn
farmers. He gave brief outline of tn
origin and history of the Brandon Farm
ers' and Meohanics' Club. Its labors hav
been most successful in exciting spiri
OF inquiry among the farmers, and in e,
taolishing itself in the affections of tb
people. 1t has obtained standing. or
oumuiated some property in the form of
iiorary, etc., and bids fair to become an
institution. Contributions are flowing II
from members who feel that thew ow,
much to the club for valuable knowledg,
received In attendance on its meetings
Inc Judge than gave brief sketch of tn,
history of farming in Brandon. Thi,
iand was lotted off and settled in 1870. I,
proved a most fertile region, producing
winter wheat at the rate of fifty bushels
per acre. Gradually this fertility fell off.
Since then there has been a struggle to
remedy the decline Of natural fertility
with varying success. In conclusion.
Judge June referred to the various natu.
raj and scientific wonders.
President Angel then addressed the
meeting upon the
OBJECT AND AIMS OF THE BOARD.
The President began by stating that he
appeared in the place of his Excellenov.
Governor Stewart, who was necessarily
absent. After responding to the court
eous welcome with which the Board had
been greeted by the Brandon club tbronuh
its venerable Vice. President. he nrocee5ed
to speak of the existence of Boards of
Agriculture in oth9 New England States
and the necessity for such a body in Yer.
mont. A sketch was given of the origin
ana organization of the Vermont Board
OF AHrlculture. Continuing, President
Aneeii gave an outline of the plan upon
wnicn the Board was working. 1t has
armed al, 10 call the farmers together and to |
elliott from them original papers to be fol.
lowed by discussion of the topics treated.
az "a the annual meeting at Montpelier
IL was intended that distinguished sneak.
ers upon industrial subjects from other
states should be invited to address the
people, Statistical reports in regard to
agriculture, mining and man ufactures
"a vermont are also to be submitted
Inc ohJeot will be thus to promote i'm.
provement in all these industries. to de-
'eiop them, and by disseminating infor-
nation OF practical character to make
ne productions of Vermont not opIv
more abundant but better and Thus more
'aiuaole. New York is now making bnt.
or that sells for one cent a pound more
=, the average price in Vermont
,noese from other localities leads ours at
ven greater advance. Vermont osn
'roauce tnese and other things as we'll as :
10y other State in the Union, and this =
u",ns h. ~ to aid the Industrial workers !
uoius 3d. 'no., - was vUJeoU .o j,
discriminate knowledge of our mineral ]
nd manufacturing resources among ooni- 4
alists elsewhere; to aid explorers in de-
lding promptly and without unnecessary q
Expense upon the value of mines, quar-
les, etc. A photographic survey was
lso contemplated by the Board, by which 8
40 vast water power of our streams o.
light be made known to manufacturers II
Maine has already made and O.
uollshed such a survey, with most en- =
ouraging results.
In agriculture it is also an object to
M uiate and report experiments BY the a
lterprising farmers of the State. These @
'periments once commenced, they spread u
l'erest widely. By being organized "
uch loss of time and many unnecessary rt
petitions would be prevented, while re-. a.
lits Will be widely published. Farmers
'o os are to DO encouraged, cooperation IS :,
all that relates to agricultural interests VI
fertilizers, large quantities of
hich are being offered in our marksts II
quire to be analysed, and their aotnsl u
iiue made known. Considerable work u
THIS Kind has already been done by the O.
'oretary of the Board.
Ill of this can only be done effectively 81
? means of the sid, support and co.oper- al
ion of the farmers, manufacturers ana 81
iners of the State. With this the nse.
illness Of the Board will be made snre. ie
I'd when report Of its work ia made to ga
"a Legislature of the State the result III
III doubtless be more liberal appropri- =,
lon 10 Its Uses, and its establishment as oi
10 OF the permanent institutions of Yer 80
)nt. 81
Secretary Collier remarked that the ~
ogramme laid out in the remarks Of m
'esident Angel we're to a certain ex. til
ut provisional, and the Board solioitsd OF
questions in regard to it from any in 8.
ested. '"
L. jameson, E.q. of Irasburpb "
ember of the Board) then read a psper M
on orr
tn
AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES. ev
~ biz
Mr.. Jameson stated that the Aurjc,I- iu,
al Department at Washington has ais
ned list Of Agricultural Societies in wa
Union, Those assigned to Vermont fin
not comprise more than a half of those Dir
actual existence in the State. In this :
the only Farmers Club in Vermont BIN,
orted M possessing library il that a, of ,
'ndon. Among those omitted ara the san
mont Dairymen's Association, the Z
mont Horse Stock Association, the the
'mplain Valley horticultural Society the
the State Board of Agriculture. bias
he value of Agricultural Societies and s
mers' clubs to the farmer is very great gar
'cially when debates and discussions the
opics relating to the farm are conduct. ellie
With spirit. Aa interchange of ideas A
these subjects, the friction of mind the
mind, stimulate thought, provoke
!lation, and lead to Improvement. s1zl
+. Jameson suggested plan of co Cd. T,
Ion on the part of Clubs, County So The
es snd the State Society, by which farm
articles from the local shows sbonId ,ai !,
objected at the county fair and ,bosa 20 20 :
he latter at the State c.; 'S ~