Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1873-03-13
|, n.c,rrocrty of Furn, Interest.


Reciprocity of fus
pev Mr. Round, of Massachusetts,
,,,bo has been n sort OF a benetactor TO
the milk producers, has proposed in the
napers the reciprocity of farm interest,
Or, as he very modestiy styles 1t, new
ENGLAND farmers club, for the Purposc
of communicating To some centTal poine
the result of farm efforts from tlh9 ~
time in order that the farmers may IN
Jsrstand the supply and demand, ana
Tins be enabled to purchase ana sell at
This nronosition varies from one al
ready initiated by the New Hampshire
Board of Agriculture only in this respect,
that the new scheme is only to benefit
those who become members OF the asso-
citation, while this is designed Tor the
benefit Of farmers generally. The plan
Ia to secure a correspondent in every
town in the State, who shall report re-
suits, from time to time, to the Secre-
tary, who is TO gather theretrom such
facts as may be of general advantage.
If this is successful, why may not the
several New England States, through
the BOARD of Agriculture, establish a
system to be applied to the States in
jividualy, and, at the same time, make
a general bureau or department embrac
inc the six States, This would answer
the object proposed by Mr. Round, and,
we think, be more useful in its action.
We CODY a portion of the article alluded
to.
With this introduction, | am prepar-
ed to state the object Of New England
farmers club. and some of the advant-
ages to be gained by it. And first, as to
its object. To bring together from
every section Of New England the opin-
ions and Judgment of practical, intelli-
gent farmers, rs to all matters affecting
directly or indirectly success or failure
in every department of agriculture; to
rive such Information in relation to
crops, treatment of crops, causes operat-
ing upon the same fayorably or unfavor-
ably, such as drought or superabnnd-
ance Of rain, cold or heat, insect ravages
and frosts; seeds and the treatment OF
seeds; fertilizers and their diversified eff
fects; times and seasons for planting;
treatment Of growing crops; the nature
of the soil and a great multitude OF 9TH
er facts. all essential to successful farm
Ing. Furthermore, to arrange for CEN
trai roint. 10 which all this information
shall be sent, and from which it shall be
sent out. by the best means, to every
part Of New England, as often as may
be deemed best.
The advantages Of such an organiza-
ton are so self evident, that particular
statement of them is not necessary.
Who can fail to see the influence OF
such information as such club can
give ? extending the scope of the farm
er's vision beyond the boundaries of the
old omestcad-where generations have
lived and died without producing any
perceptibe increase of agricultural
knowledge and taking in as the result
of comprehensive research and expert
ence all that is encouraging and useful
In New England farms. Nor IS the adj
vantage thus gained to be considered
alone in relation to the growth of crops.
These crops are to be disposed of, and
the price obtained should not depend up
on the causes affecting Thorn in one To-
cality, but upon those existing in every
part of the country. The information
sent out by the club, gathered from ev-
cry available source, will prepare the
seller % meet the buyer, for the seller
not only will know the yield of his
own crops but will also know approx
imatelv the Weld of his brother farm
er's crops in every other State. And
vet another advantage ought especially
to be named, and that is, that it would
prove to be the death of numerous ag-
ricultural humbugs; the bite in one part
of the body would send a twinge through
the whole; the secret of the immense
fertilizing power of salt, and lime and
plaster would no more be sold at three
dollars per head for each victim, and
thousands of dollars, now fOolishly eX-
pended upon seeds, fertilizers and won
derful Inventions which have no virtue
or merit, would be saved for the pur-
chase of those known by practical eX-
perience to be good.
But enough has been written to show
the importance of the object and the
greatness of the advantages and | will
conclude for the present, by answering
an anticipated question. How can this
club he formed, and in what way can it
be made to produce such benefits? First,
secure the cooperation OF such men in
all the New England States as will agree
to give in writing at stated times, the
results of their experience and judgment
in relation 10 such questions as may be
given out by the club through a proper
committee for each week or month in
the year, and who will also furnish, as
an appendix to their opinions upon the
questions to be considered, a report of
the weather and all causes tending to
affect favorably or unfavorably results
In relation to crops and the products of
the farm generally. Second, when a
sufficient number Of such men have sent
in their names, let a meeting be called;
and the club duly organized by the APP
pointment Of proper officers and the
selection Of a committee on questions,
and at which meeting also arrangements
can be made TO engrOss the reports for
each week or month; and the means be
devised to send the results all over the
States represented. No meetings will
be required except the annual meeting,
and the cost will be nothing compared
with the benefits gained = mirror ana