Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1873-04-01

/ IS worm WOthtus tOis nv " ''s''' WV ~
in,siimable ralHe to mankind.
After The lecture, the members OF the
Board and friends from abroad were in'
viied 10 Join the citizens OF Barre and
take part In a social entertainment ut The
grand old homestead ol SIR. John L.
Ellsworth. the ex member OF the Board,
from the Worcester County West Society.
Carriages were in waiting at the door,
and after ride OF some mile and hall,
about $50 persons were made to feel
rery mach at home. either in happy re-
unions or in making new aequintanees.
Prof. Agassiz, who is handled by his
many friends as carefully and tenderly
as baby, was able to be present and
shed The influence of his warm heart
and noble soul over the little group who
are always gathered aronnd him where
ever he may he, To listen 10 his words OF
encouragement or wisdom. After spend
ing a couple Of hours with the family OF
Nj. Ellsworth. the carriages we're again
At the door, and the company dispersed
TO their various homes.
This morning. CThursday,) another
sleighiug party was made up Tor visit
10 Rocking Rock some three miles
away over the hills OF Barre, Mr.. Els
worth's "big team taking the lead.
Here we listened to few words from
Prot. AgAssiz. on the probable history
of those great boulderS that lie on tho
summit of considerable range Of gran
tie, and were dropped into place 50 nice
IN that they have been rocked back and
forth on their pivotal bearing, by the
force of a single hand. Within lew
wears the boys on some holiday have
gathered in such numbers with their
levers and old rails, that the rock has
been moved little out OF position, so
now il no longer rocks. On account oil
tho sleigh ride. the meeting was opened
this morning little late.
Mr.. Flint read letter OF invitation TO
the Board to take some action in view OF
the Worlds Exposition. to be held at
Vienna, during the coming summer.
Messrs. Slade. Flint and Stone, were
chosen a committee with iull power to
represent the Board Mr.. Hubbard, was
invited to the chair. The first paper OF
this morning was read by Mr.. Andrew
H. Ward, Of BridgewaIer. Subject
.Ranures aud Fertilizers and their IPph-
cations. After reading from large col
lection OF table statistics. relating to the
values Of different kinds OF manures and
foods. he took the ground that farm yard
mauurcs are not worth their cost. Or, IN
O, her words. farmers cannot afford TO
keep farm stock for the purpose OF max
ing manure; better purchase soda, ash
and other chemicals. because all the III
gradients found in farm manure, can be
bought in the market cheaper than they
can be made on the farm The Speaker
sold all his own manure this year. and
used manufactured fertilizers instead.
lie allowed that farm manure was the
type of all good fertilizers, because 1t
contains all the ingredients ot plant food /;
but IL loses hy evaporation aud 10y leach
ing. and must be applied in lis rcceut state,
Tor It's value /, very much reduced 10y
Keeping All kinds Of manure, whether
natural or artificial. should be applied oi-
ten, and never on frozen ground. but
should be worked into the soil just when
the crops need it, or be applied. n on
grass. Just before rains that will carry
the valuable salts directly TO the roots.
! Agricultural Societies have been nj
great expense in iusliiuting trials of farm
machinery. as the mower. horse rake,
iedder, Sc. They should also cause eX.
pclimen,s to be made in ths use OF com
mevcial fertilizers, in connection with
farm manure lie showed the audience
q diagram, explaining how the different
parcels Of land should be laid out, 50 as
20 determine the relative value OF al the
kinds used, and also their relative value
on all the different crops grown. pre-.
sumo the lecturer Is aware that the Michi.
gan Agricultural College and State
Board OF Agriculture. have for many
years past been making just such expert
ments, and tina: they haze very often been
quite unsatisfactory. as evidence either
for or against the value OF the different
fertilizers used.
In the Secretary's report for the year
| 1865, MI. Miles, speaking of certain cx'
perimeuts made. says. at will no. be
safe TO draw any general conclusions
from the results above given, rs the Pc
culiarities of the seaaon undoubtedly had
a great influence in determining them.
A wet spring, followed by worry severe
drought during the summer, presented
climatic conditions. that were not favor
able to comparative experiments IN the
appljcation OF manures. Under the most
favorable circumstances. however. com.
parison OF results for a single season,
could not furnish the desired inior-
nation. as to the relative value OF man
ure applied in different ways. The effect
upon the crops which follow rotation
must, of coure, be taken into account,
before the question can be iully answer
ed
On the whole. the lecture was q very
GOOD one on the subject of mahuIeS. A