Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1871-06-30

Governor Stewart, President, in the chair.
Governor Stewart opened the meeting by
general statement of the objects of the Board
Its scope embraces not only agriculture, but
manufactures and mining. The first is the
leading interest Of the State, but the others are
of great importance. There may be an impress
sion that the Board undertakes to direct and
supervise agriculture in the State, bat this ls an
error. II undertakes not 10 direct, but to CO.
operate with the Efforts of farmers for sels-ad-
vsncement No pursuit can so truly be called
scientific, in the sense that its true foundation
must be knowledge systematized, j. e., scieace,
as agriculture The facts that we discover in
the growth Of vegetation, when arranged leed
to the discovery OF laws, and these laws, when
oace known, give basis for daily work that
shall be successful and profitable In this work,
all the natural sciences may and ought to be en-
listed Manual labor otherwise unattractive, is
illustrated and enlivened, as well as allevisted,
and the young men who bring science to aid ag-
ricultursl work, will not be so easily discour-
sgei or disgusteG They find in connection with
their daily labor matters Of interest that elevate
the sotuai work above the irudgerv which il is
when uuinielligently pursued. In the meetings
Of this Board, the principal object is TO awaken
interest and provoke discussion among the farm
ers themselves. This leads to improvement.
The discussion OF agricultural facts brings them
home 10 the mind far more freely than mere
reading. When tine farmers are awakened 10
! the importance and usefulness Of meetings for
mutual improvement, the Board has done
! terial part Of the work for which II wss Or
ganized. Bosrls Of agriculture are already in
existence in other Sates, and when Vermont
means to fall behind, she must take hold Of the
work. Previous meetings Of this Board have
been successful in exciting interest where they
were held. The people are beginning to see thst
we are falling behind in some branches Of sgri-
culture, notsbly in horses, aud they are
resdy to take hold and endeavor TO remedy the
evil, and put Vermont where she should be as
New England State,-in the rank Of progress
Once STARTED among eur farmers, this spirit Of
progress will not be arrested. When we realize
our deficiencies, and With concert Of action begin
the attempt to remedy them, It viii be done
/ Organization is necessary in order to proceed
| in the work effectively. nucleus for this
organized work s found in the Bozrl Of Agricul-
ture. whose Secretary, IN concert with the mem
bers AMI others, lays out plans and submits them
to the people At these meetings f0- their discus
sion.
Thc Governor spoke Of the uses of the Board
in promoting manufactures and mining. sdvo-
eating a photographic survey Of the Stste, also
a report on our mineral resources, with efforts 70
draw public attention to them snd attract capital
for their Development He also alluded to the
benefits to agriculture arising from the develop
ment Of Manufactures sud Mining in giving near
and profitable markets for farm produce
Prof Collier called attention 10 the fact that
these carly meetings were 20 great degree ten
tative or experimental, aud one Of their chief Oh
1 ects is 10 elicit opinion and advice from the
fsrmers themselves as to the best way in which
il should work.
Among other important things now presented
20 Tire Board fer its disposal Is that Of CONNER
c.al fertilizers, which sre greatly aluiiera.ei.
/ already the Board has saved the State, m this
particular, more than its entire cost fJr the year.
/ another point to be considered is the decline Of
production, either ac;ual or comparative Of our
lands Other countries are increasing their pro
ducts, and We can, We must do the same. We
must DO il, anl how shall we do it better how
SHALL We DO it az al, unless by first consulting
together upon the ways and means England
now raises wheat in large fields a. the rate Of so
70 go bushels 20 the acre. Vermont averages II
bushels, ye; her soil is better than that ol Eng
land England buys Cur bCues-We sell them,
sud neglect oar ether means Of fertilization
thst is the reason Why size goes aheal and We
fsll behind.
Gov Stewart presented scme statistics show
ing how Vermont has failed in keeping up with
the agricultural progress Of the time.
Dr. Hiram 4. Cutting Of Lunenhur- h,n read
then real the same psper thst was read by
him a. the Brandon meeting, on Meteor
olory."
After brief iesuitory discussion Of the sub
jcct. the meeting adjourned until evening.
EVENING.
4 psper xss read by Geo. T. Ngtting, ESQ,
Of Randolph, on The Management Of Farm
WooI.arls"
Mr. n. hsraa By Observing Ia regard 20 cur
mountain woods Jhs- u.an lad no occasion 20 inter
f5re with the processes Ct the Creator farther than
to protect them FROM fires. As regards lowllni
woods !; has been the custom TO fall them in the
process Of clearing snd TO eouyer; their ashes
into potash Ths practice is Tow nearly
Obsolete. Mr. y psssci by these two classes OF
woodland, deyounE his attention msiniy to the
smaller woodiofs oil the farmers Of the present
time The wood crop, unlike others, grows
slowly, and g consequence II is neglected, not
cared for. sui i,s yalue underestimate. Few
farmers really understand the due proportion
that tteir Woodland ough, 20 bear 10 their other
lard In order 20 supply adequately the calls for
building saj fencing timber on the farm,
together with Iuc Twenty 10 forty years viii
exhaust the wooil0ts on most Of ogr farms d
the present draught upon them is maintainel
wi;hou: Efforts for their preservation anl re-
s;oraton.
Few realize tie longevity ef our forest trees
recently feiiei "a tree having i-i annual rings
What a period Of time. looking either back ward
or forward Now this is the time required 0;
bring our trees 10 a hsle maturity. With Whs
care and economy must such trees be used If We
would DO our duty by our woodland. How un-
wise 10 let cur c.ttie rsrge and browse upon oul
young trees that must replace these Old
mcuarchs. What must We do First, fenc.
the wood let. Second, cut out the old AM
iecaying growth. Third if We must cut tn,
best trees. cut them ia a body, 20 give space q
p, the young growth. Fourth, plant around th,
: wood Jos a live fence Of willow or other quicl
growing wood rs a protection.
Mr.. jameson expressed views favorable {,
clearing ail good tillahle land, leaving oaly The
hill sics IN wood But waste should be stopped
The time Is row passed when reckless vast
! should be counterac,ed. But The prescryatioI
Of forests on tilahie laud j. not farming at all
The trees must he removed before fsrming il
I, possible.
7, MIR. J. p. Foster, CT Passumpeic, urged tn
evils Of cutting of anl clearing up the hill sides
The cleared land would never be Of equal valu
: 10 the woodland IS perpetual source ofincrease
In bis section the farmers actually welcomed tn
importation Of coal, for it relieved the draf
. upon their woodlots. The railroad is extremely
, destructive Of the forest, calling not only fol
fuel hut for ties, for material for cars, etc, etc
Mr.. +. advocated plsuting trees on al the denu
dei hill sides and pastures. Twenty-Five year
ago he set many naples on his farm which ar
y now a5undaniy large for tsppiug Trees set /
years ago are now II inches through mani
would tap these but the others are proportion
ately larger Trees ought to be planted nc
only for use but for ornsment, at every suitable
: point When 60 planted they become an invslu
be heritage in the village and on the homestead
> They have q ciyiiizing and refining influence
To visitors they give evidence Of broad ideas ant
liberal culture
Gov. Stewart spoke briefly of the climatic in
fuenoes Of forests. Where they Sre cut Of
droughts prevail. The amount Of evaporation
o from the lcifage Of trees is perfectly incredible
!, until demonstrated by actual experiment Thl
I Governor thought that the droughs now s,
: common in Vermont were due TO forest denuds
tion. Clouds follow the range of forests, and z,
around bare country. Nature seems 70 retail
ate on man for waste Of this sort.
: Mr.. Jsmeson then read a paper on " Farm
! Buildings, and their Relation to Husbandry''
a Mr.. J. began by alluding to the miserable
, dwellings Of the farm lsborers of Europe and tn
i. South. The farmers of the North arc better
housed than those of sny other part of the world
{ Every farmer should have a good house and
good barn. Their locations should be vel
, studied in regard 10 their uses Place building
convenient to farm work, rather than to the higt
, road. Select dry, well drained, airy place
a with convenient spots near for garden, orchard
; well, etc Build thoroughly aud warm, so thai
! the heat Of fires in the house, and animal heat
in the barns may be economical. Have warm
or at least frost-proof cellars Let one chimney
begin in the cellar, that 4 stove msy, in emer.
gency, be placed there. Double doors as well =,
windows were recommended. Ventilation SHOULD
be provided for, but not be accidental.
Stock barns should be made tight, especially
below. There is no greater economy than il
seeing that the STALE, pens and tie-ups are
warn enough not to freeze. Mr. ] advocated
barn cellars for manure.
, Farm houses ought to lie planned by an expert