Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1872-11-06

mated to the uses of man, until nature has al
most been forced to capitulate. To subdue
the earth, to subordinate nature to our uses
is not only our privilege, it is our duty.
No one need feel that his efforts are not de-
msnded the grand army needs recruits in
every service. In this warfare We encounter
no gorrlllas. Everything moves on in Obedi-
ence to law. In the physical no less than in
the moral world, he who arrays himself
against the laws of nature will be over
thrown. Those who work in harmony with
er laws are sure of q reward.
story Of the German farmer who
began a crusade by going about and : preach
ing the gospel of clover" and how be was
jeered at and pronounced " clover mad. >
until at last he was lifted to an honorab bic
position, and titled a." knight of the clover
field" was graphically given as an illustra-
ton of one of the early struggles in agri-
cultural progress. The spea ler regretted
that so many young men were draw away
from agricultural pursuits, and said that
intelligence must be our motto in the future
or failure will be the result. Ii is only
thrty-fve years since the question was seri-
ously propounded whether minerals were
necessa ~ to plant life, and now millions of
dollars are invested in producing phosphates
and other substances to supply this in
dispensable plant-producing element. Many
of the methods heretofore pursued had
become inapplicable, and a change of cir
cumstances requires change Of programme.
Instances of the great success which had
followed an intelligent application of science
to farming were given. ''Of course, said
the speaker, "quackery abounds. This year
it is lime, next year plaster, the next phos-
pilates or ashes, and so on" Farmers who
follow such lead with ignorant zeal, soon
lose confidence in scientific agriculture.
What he wished to impress upon their minds
was the importance of knowledge of what
is required. The physician that gives the
same treatment for all diseases would not be
likely to succeed We feed our stock after
no fixed formula, but according to their
needs and circumstances, and crops should
be treated in the same manner, and he be-
crops would be as judiciously fed as our stock
The Secretary thought well of farmers
clubs and societies There were now SO in
the State, and he hoped soon there would be
800. Intelligence and cooperation is what
we most need. and firm belief that " every
body knows more than anybody" Speak
ing Of the large per cent of poor butter
manufactured. and placing the whole pro-
duct at little less than $4,000, 600 per an
mum, it was easy to calculate a money loss
of SOI3,000, which might be saved. and
which, he said, would support the Board OF
Agriculture for two hundred and fity-two
years In comparison with other industries
agriculture stands far in the rear whilst Il
should stand IN the forefront Don't let us
undtrrate Its Importance. Capital stands
paraIyzed and our financial centers are
shaken when there Is heavy failure in agrI-
cultural products. He alluded 10 the con
dluon OF Ireland and ersia in times Of
famine, as Illustrations Of this.
In conclusion, Prot. Collier referred t. the
forthcoming report OF the state board which
he sad had been prepared with great care,
and which he believed would contain more
useful inform atom than any work oil the
Kind yet published.
At tue close, vote Of thar Ks vas unani-
luo4sly accorded the speaker, on notion OF
Mr.. D5ug'ass OF Whiting.