Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1872-02-28
Meeting of the State Board of Ag-
riCuliurc
At MONTPELIER FEB. ala a
WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON.

who, IN the absence OF NoV. stewart made q .
few Introductory remarks.
lie said that in the course Of the progress
which had been made in Agriculture, it had
become necessary to organize scmc department
in government whose province it should be
to investigate and develope the industries Of
the State, uasmuch as the people who pro-
duce these elements Of wealth are the chief
reliance Of the State All the Eastern States .
have organized boards analogous to cur
Board OF Agriculture Mining and Statistics. |
Among the objects sought to be effected by |
this Board is, the following Of plans which
will increase the wealth, population and i'm.
proyemont Of the people, thereby nurturinr
the best interests Of the State The East
had for years been drained Of their young
men, the productive class by emigration to
the West. In looking about the State, we
see that We must change our method of Agri- |
culture aud possibly must have to resort to our
water power as a means for changing 1t. A |
wise and judicious use Of the abundant water
power with which we are blessed, would tend to
the building up Of large cities in our midst, by
which the Agriculture Of that vicinity would
be changed from loose grazing to garden pro.
ducts, Upon this development we must de-
pend, and such was the object and intention
Of this Board. They have in contemplation
an attempt to make a thorough photographic
survey Of the State, and to recommend an
appropriation from the Legislature for this
purpose. They expect by the collection and
publication Of statistics, to place before the
world the advantages which we possess in this
respect, and once known, he thought they
would be readily improved.
BY this means the business Of merchandise
ing would be changed. We shall no longer
pay tribute to Boston and New York, but
shall have centres Of capital and business
amongst ourselves. lie called upon the poo
pie of the State to support the Board in these
objects
Mr.. Heath then introduced, in the absence
Of Col. Mead, IIoN. lIESRY LANE Of Corn
wall, who read an excellent paper on " PEAR
CULTURE" Mr.. Lane began by saying that
the successful culture Of pears depended upon
many conditions, as the kinds and condition.
Of soil, location, difference in altitude, expos
ure or protection nearness Of largo body Of
water, etc. No general rules can be strictly
followed in pear culture, though they are
sometimes useful Our climate is very try
ing to the pear tree, both in winter and in
summer. He thought for their successful sul-
tivation in Vermont we must exercise great
care in the selection of carly bearing and
hardy varieties. Not five per cent. or the
trees sold by nurserymen ever lived ten years,
and not ten per cent. lived five years, nor two
per cent Of all planted in the last twenty
years have ever reached profitable bearing
Great care must be taken in the selection of
seeds, in planting, and in their future cultiva-
ton. The pear in its natural state is hardy
but the pears we raise are long remove
from this, and bear, by grating, but little
resemblance to their original. Trees should be
grown from seed of your own raising or from
seed raised on soil similar to that IN which
you intend planting. The seed bed should be
deep, rich soil, and an early growth should
be secured to prevent the insects or the frost
from iujuring them. Remove the seeding
after one or two years growth to the place
where it is to stand A strong oamy soil i,
best, and low, wet, frosty location is to be
avoided. The hole should be just large
enough to admit the roots They should b,
planted three or four days after rain. Pu
no two roots in contact. Never water tire,
after it is planted. Moisten by culture o.
mulehing. Keep clear from weeds Mr.
Lane favored the setting out of both dwar
and standard trees. Don't get too many va
rieties. He recommended the Flemish Beau
ty and Bartlett varieties. Standards nee,
but little pruning when young Prune il
spring just before the trees bud. Frequen
pruning makes the trees hardy.
The blight is the worst disease with whic
we have TO contend. There are two kinds {
blight, the insect blight and the frozen sa
blight from the latter of these moro tree
are lost than from every other cause. Til
Borers do not trouble tho pear tree Thi
out the fruit when about one.lourth grow
One-half crop of pears is worth more tina
full crop, Gather when the fruit first b,
gins to fall, and before thoroughly ripe.-
When harvested place in dry, cool place.
Mr. lane concluded by an appeal to tho farm
ers to plant fruit and ornamental trees
beautify and make attractive their dwelling
so that the boys would be the more readil
induced to stay at home. In answer to il
terrogatories, MIR. Lane said that be shoul
prefer grating on to ounce stock that /
could not recommend any winter pears
thought the winter apple the better fruit
DR.. j. S. spaulding Of Barre, had great fat
that pears could be cultivated in this count
and gave his experience in raising apples
He used guano and superphOsphates who'll
for manure.
Mr. Heath then introduced Mr.. ID.
WnEmocK Of Barre, who read an exceller
paper on the dairy, which we shall publish i
full hereafter.
Prof. COLLIER inquired about the props
depth Of milk in pans. His own inyestig,
tions had led him to believe that the dept
was not Of great Importance.
Mr.. WnEELocK said that he knew that
the depth of three inches, the milk was a
creamed. He knew that beliefs aud custom
varied in this matter.
Mr.. j. w. WmEELooK said that the bell
in Missouri, where they had no good butte
was, that the kind of feed made no diaeren,
in the quality of the butter.
Mr.. d. b. WnEELooK secuted this ide