The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1872-11-19
agricultural department.
CONDUCTED BY ALBERT CHAPMAN.
The Board Of Agriculture.

ly, by invitation OF the General Assembly,
delivered al Address in Representatives
Hall, at Montpelier, upon subjects con-
nected with the duties Of the Board in
the interest Of the great and leading in
dustry of the State. Senator Sprague Of
Brandon, presided. Gov. Converse in
troduced the speaker, and on motion OF
Mr.. Douglas, OF Whiting, unanimous
vote of thanks was passed at the conclus-
ion of the address,
We believe that this address will be Of
benefit to the cause OF agriculture in this
state, in awakening more lively consci.
business, among our state Legislators. OF
her actual needs in this direction. The
last of the New England States to establish
an Agricultural Board, it is to be hoped
that now we have one, and especially now
that it has demonstrated, under the wise
aud efficient direction of its secretary, its
great importance and ustfi'nes 1t will lie
adequately sustained, not only by the
legislature, but by the people.
The present board is made up Of good
material, containing as it does at least one
of the best farmers Of the state, MIR.
Safford.) and represented in its manu-
featuring and mining relations by promi-
nent gentlemen like Mr.. Heath and Mr..
Hyde. We do not know, indeed, how
we could get better men on the Board
than we have, if they could only find time
to attend the meetings more frequently.
1t would seem that it mig ht be wise
for the legislature to make little more
liberal appropriation, and TO allow the
members of the Board not only mileage,
but a moderate per diem. Men such as
we ought to have on the Board land such
as we now have on it) find their time too
valuable to give SO much Of it as is re-
quired to attend ten or dozen meetings
Year without any equivalent, and we
ough 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, the President Of the Uni.
versity of Vermont and State Agricultural
College, and tho Secretary, er o6fcio /;
nine 10 all Ifthey we're saaried body.
this perhaps would be as large number
as the Legislature could be asked at pres
ent to pay, and might be enough But
under the present arrangement, without
pay, the Board would be much more
effective if made up of one or more mem.
bers from each county as in Maine and
Massachusetts,. These, if made elective
by the county societies and allowed
mileage, would probably be paid for their
services when in attendance by the socie-
ties themselves. There would be larger
number to draw from, and those of the
Board living in the counties nearest to
each place of meeting would be more able
to attend, and more interested to take an
active part in the proceedings. What is
wanted is to develop real efficiency in the
Board itself, and not throw the whole, or
nearly the whole burden upon the secre-
tary, who, however able. ought to have,
and would be the better for having, such
active aid.
Heretofore the meetings have been
mainly sustained in their interest by the
labors Of volunteers, both as contributors
ofpapers and as participants in the dis.
cussions springing therefrom. These
volunteer contributions would always be
useful and important part of the meet
ings, but they need more solid basis in
the Board itself;-members prepared tc
take definite part, and to conduct the
proceedings in an energetic and system.
attic way.
Any Que who will read and study the
proceedings Of the Massachusetts and
Maine Boards. (the oldest and mos,
efficient bodies Of the kind in the coun-
rr,) will be convinced of the importance
of the point to which we have alluded.
AS to the value Of such Board to the
state, we take the liberty representing tc
our readers letter recently received
from the Governor Of Maine in reply t
an inquiry as to the real value OF al
Agricultural Board where its working
have been long under trial, and its claim,
to usefulness can be satisfactorily judged
My DEAR SIR Your note of Angus
9th, asking my opinion az to the useful
ness of our State Board Of Agriculture
has been received. Having been mem
Der OF the Board at its organization il
1858, and close observer Of its worl
since that time,I may be justified in speak
ing with some degree OF confidence, Th
advantage to the farming interest of tn
State, derived from the meetings and dis
cussions Of the Board and the report o
the secretary, has been very great
Through these instrumentalities create
interest has been created useful knowledg
disseminated, aud better methods of cul
tivation have been adopted. | am quit
certain that express the sentiments G
large majority Of our people when
say we should regard the adjustment 9
the Board in this state as public ms
fortune. Very respectfully yours.
SIDNEY PERHAM.
Paris, Maine, Sept. 6, 1872.
Vermont Farmer.
The Working Ofthe Protective Polio!
The protectionists Of the United State
behold in our country world gifted wit
all soils, all climates, all mineral resource
and with the powers of wind, water. an
fuel on a grander scale than the nation
OF Europe combined They believe
developing these resources and maxim
wind, water, fire, and all the powers
nature disclosed to us by science, col
tribute to the welfare OF man. The
believe in so applying science and Il
mechanic arts that the exhausting druid
cry Of labor may be lifted from the shout
ers OF the toiling masses and put upt
organized iron and steel moved by stea
and guided by man or woman.
Sir, ifgentlemen will visit the machin
shops in my district 1.-THE leading distri