Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1872-12-20

Agriculture nave Deen lOr years estaU-
lished institutions, and have received from
the people both sympathy and funds to con-
tinue their good work. OF course vita all
the wide field Of usefulness open and the
moderate means at the disposal Of the Board,
we may fairly claim that judgment be passed
upon the character Of the work already done,
rather than upon what has from necessity
been left undone. Nor would l, indeed, lay
claim to immediate results as those which
are our aims, though judged by these
alone, think the abors Of the Board most
beneficial The full fruits for which we
strive shall not appear for a generation. at
least, and yet along with these grander re-
suits may come lesser but more immediate
results not to be ignored.
. A few ofthese will. briefly indicate. l.
There are for sale within our borders about
twenty different commercial fertilizers
Some Of them are valuable. Some of
them are valueless. Except by chemical
analysis no one can Judge of their relative
value. This analysis is too expensive to be
undertaken by the individual, and the Board
has had prepared, and will include in its re-
port, analyses and calculated value,of every
fertilizer sold within the State so that the
farmer may himself know the real worth Of the
fertilizer he buys. That this is a matter Of
very great pecuniary Importance l could
give you many cases in proof.
2. 1t is extremely desirable that an accu.
rate knowledge be disseminated concerning
all branches of agricultural knowledge, and
to this end tho Board have held meetings
for the reading of papers and holding of
discussions upon ore and another topic Of
practical interest to the farmer. The report,
which 1 regret that unavoidable crcumstan-
ces have prevented being already before you,
will, think, more than justify the wisdom
Of the Boards action in this respect. 1t is a
matter Of regret that copy cannot be put
in the hands of every farmer Of our State,
for l think | may say without egotism that
it will contain more matter Of practical in
terest and value to the farmer, than any
similar report of any state. This is due to
the fact that the Board has throughout had,
so far as l know, and have certainly been
in position to know, the full sympathy Of
our most intelligent agriculturists, and it has
been Of course wholly due to their hearty
cooperation that the Board has been able to
move forward in this direction. Almost en-
tirely, indeed with but two exceptions, the
papers which are published have been pre-,
pared by those of our state, whose ability tc
speak with authority on these matters are
well known to you. The exceptions alluded
to are two Invaluable papers by Prof. John
son on Rotation CT Crops and Exhaustion o.
Soils,-papers alone worth a hundred time.
all the expense of the Board to the farmer
of Vermont. OF the rest so many arise Il
mind that it would be unjust to maxi
distinction.
l would add, however, that the paper
have been specially prepared for us, and arr
those of special interest to US Of Vermont
whose northern latitude renders its agricul
, ture in certain respects peculiar.
8. Although from the first the Board ha
; desired to take steps towards a photograph,
survey Of the State, similar to the one re
Gently completed for Maine under the super
intendence of Walter Wells, Esq, their fund
were quite inadequate to permit anything
further to be done than to collect the neces
sary statistics for such survey. In accor
dance with their direction and through tn
: courtesy of Mr.. Wells to whom | am in
debted for most valuable suggestions, a circu
lar has been addressed to parties in ever,
township of the State and in all 12l return
: have thus far been made. These show what
: perhaps, was known to most of you tina
. there exist, in many places within our boz
Il ders, water powers either wholly or in par
: unoccupied, second to none in New England
1t seems most desirable that this importan
fact be known to the capitalists of New Eng
. land, especially since at this time the wider
u ing circle of our manufacturing industriC
u has already included part of our own Stat,
IL In the reports received by me large pre-
" portion of property owners have signihe
u their willingness to assume the entire expen'
r' of any exact survey of their water privilege
% while many more are willing to share Ii
L burden OF course this matter in its detail
70 is too extensive and in its prospective resul
L too important to be left simply subordi
. ate detail of the Board work, though withoJ
'S doubt it might be carried forward und
sc their direction. The report of the MaiI
re survey already alluded to is comprised in
s. volume of 525 pages, and understand h
IN already been instrumental in attractiI
D. capital to seek investment within her border
10 Legislature also has exempted from taxati'
y such capital for series of years Of cour
;" l can but leave the matter for your consi
g. Grafton, hoping that, at least, this survey mi
q be provided for by your honorable body.
a. should add that | have received also fro
le the Hon, Secretary of State l4l returns
nc all, in response to circular received by hi
er bearing date Jan. lst, 1869, similar in cha
AZ acter to the one received by the Board,
'n that there exists already much of the mat
II, rial necessary to report, such as alrea'
40 has been made for Maine.
is A. In mining thus far little has been do
'r- by the Board other than to secure carel
on reviews by competent authorities of the '
OF rous industries of this character, In Il
a Report will appear papers upon the marb