Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1872-11-08
THE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE,

Professor Collier, the able and efficient
secretary of our State Board has recently,
by invitation of the General Assembly, de-
livered an Address in Representatives Hall,
at Montpelier, upon subjects connected with
the duties of the Board in the interest of the
great and leading industry of the State.
Senator Sprague of Brandon, presided. Gov,
Converse introduced the speaker, and on
motion of Mr.. Douglas, of Whiting, unan-
imous vote of thanks was passed at the con-
cluson of the address.
We believe that this address will be OF
benefit to the cause of agriculture in this
state, in awakening a more lively conscious
ness, amoug our stats legislators, Of her act
ual needs in this direction The last of the
New England States to establish an Agricul-
tural Board, it is to be hoped that now we
have one, and especially now that it has
demonstrated, under the wise and efficient
direction of its secretary, its great impor.
lance and usefulness, it will be adc.
quately sustained, not only by the legisla-
ture, but by the people.
The present board is made up OF good MA.
terial, containing as it Dies at least one Of
the best farmers Of the state, (Mr. Stafford,
and represented in its manufacturing and
mining relations by prominent gentlemen
like Mr.. Heath and Mr.. Hyde. We do moi
know, indeed, how we could get better mer
on the Board than we have, if they could
only find time to attend the meetings morC
frequently.
1t would seem that it might be wise fol
the legislature to make little more liberia
appropriation, and to allow the members o.
the Board not only mileage, but moderate
per diem. Men such as We ought to hay,
on the Board land such as we now have OF
it) find their time too valuable to give 81
much of it as is required to attend ten Or q
dozen meetings year without any equiva
lent, and we ought not to expect it.
In regard to the constitution of the Board
it is now made up Of two members from each
Congressional District, with the Governor, tn,
President of the University of Vermont anC
State Agricultural College, and the Secreta
ry, er o6icio; nine in all. If they were
salaricd body, this perhaps would be as Iarg
a number as the legislature could be askeC
at present to pay, and might be enough
But under the present arrangement, withou
pay, the Board would be much more effective
If made up Of one Or more members from
each county, as in Maine and Massachusetts
These if made elective by the county socc
ties and allowed mileage, would probably b
paid for their services when in attendance b
the societies themselves There would be
larger number to draw from, and those q
the Board living in the counties nearest t
each place Of meeting would be more able
attend, and more interested to take an activ
part in the proceedings What is wanted
to develop real efficiency in the Board il
self, and not throw the whole, or nearly tn
whole burden upon the secretary, who, how
ever able, ought to have, and would be tn
better for having, such active aid.
Heretofore the meetings have been mainl
sustained in their interest by the labOrs {
volunteers, both as contributors ofpapers an
as participants in the discussions springin
therefrom, These volunteer contribution
would always be a useful aud important pa
of the meetings but they need more soil
basis in the Board itself members prepal
cd to take definite part, and to conduo
the proceedings in an energetic and system
attic way. Any one who will read and stud