Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1874-01-30
Vermont DaIrymen's AssociatIOn.-Fif,h Winter
Meeting.

| spite oil the preNalilng storm, tnere was
large opening attendance Of dairymen from
various parts of the State. and from New
York State. A number of ladies were also
present. \ number Of gentlemen of emin-
ence in this branch of industry were in at.
tendance, some Of them representing lead
ing journals. Among them were: l.. 3.
Arnold, Secretary of the American Dairy
mems Association, reporting for the New
York Tribune; Henry Stewart, of the Amer
lean AgricrhHri1, representing the New
York Times; A. w. Cheever, popular
dairyman of Sheldonyille, MAS. who repre-
sents the Nsio England Farmer; W IL.
Bowker, Massachusetts Plopman; Hon. 7.
5. Gold, Secretary Of the Connecticut
Board of Agriculture; Dr. T. Lewis Sturte-
want and Joseph n. Sturteyant, of South
birmingham, and John 7. Ellsworth, of
Barre, Mass; DR.. Geo. F. Cole, President of
citation; MessrS W. 4 W. L. Rutherford
eminent breeders Of dairy stock. and seve-
raj others of the more prominent dairymen
of St Lawrence County. New York; Prof.
Peter Collier, Secretary of the State Board
of Agriculture, and Me~srs. Douglas, Hos
kns and lIalbert. of the State Board.
Among the State papers represented, are
the Vermont Farmer. by Dr. 7. 5. lIoskins,
its editor; Rutland Gioje, by Henry
Clark, Esq; ST. Albans Messenger, by Col.
Albert Clarke; st. Adams Adrertisr, by
NJ J Maloney; Record and Farmer, by c.
Horace Hubbard. and the Burlington FREE
Pass.
The meeting was called 10 order 10y Hon.
+. u. Mason, President of the Association
and opened with reading Of the Scriptures
and prayer by Rev. Edwin Wheelock. Pres
ident Mason then addressed the Association
PRESIDENT MAsoN's ADDRESS.
We live in an age of great events and
rapid progress. The human spirit l. rest
less, and the human mind is active Men
are pushing their researches in all direc-
tions. and extending the domains of science
far beyond the landmarks of the genera
ton that has Just passed away.
Agriculture, as well as everything else.
feels the impulse that Is pushing the world
onward and upward The desire for i'm
proyement and progress has found it. way
into the humblest corner OF the civilized
world. and the farmer Is dreaming of I'M
proved processes, better returns Tor hl~ Ia
Dor, and more enjoyable condition OF ex-
istenee.
That his present condition i no better is
no special fault of his Ii he Is not educa-
ted in better ways. it Is because he did not
have proper opportunities when boy. Ills
educational advantages were limited, which
was no fault of his, but his misfortune.
Science has Jagged behind. and i only
iuSt beginning TO discover that 1t has rs
greatest mission TO perform among the
farmers and toilers generally. hen
science comes up to the mark and does it>
duty. the farmers will not be slow in wheel
ing into line and making the earth blossom
As the rose.
Our dairvmen ana farmers stand ia need
of a better knowledge of their calling The
object of this Association Is two fold: First,
to benefit dairymen directly, increase
the product of the dairy. and render the
returns for labor more remuneratlYe. The
second object i to give the people new
sense of the Importance and dignity OF
agriculture to give them 70 under- tand
that il j. the most diguiiied pursuit that
any man can follow. The object and aim
of this association J. the Development Of
the leading industry of the Smte-the
dairy. and all industries connected there
with The object is good one. Some may
say that the intelligent dairyman has no
need of such an association, and in sense
this may be true. But it mus; be under
stood that it seeks not to direct, but to co-
operate with the Efforts of dairymen for
self-adyancement. In the meetings ot this
association the main object is to awaken IN
terest and provoke discussion among the
iairymen themselves.
This leads to Improvement Tie discus
sion of dairy facts brings them home Il the
mind far more forcihly than mere reading
Discussion will promote reading and reiie '-
ton. The subject matter will be thorough
ly dice. ted and assimliated, thus becoming
part of one. a bone and muscle by the dl-
gestion a I'D assimilation OF tood Papers
appertaini ~ to the dairy are therefore not
enough. no matter how good IN themselves.
Reflective. Intelligent discussion Is nvalu-
able
The success of the association depends upon
Won. Our worthy and excellent secretary can
not without your aid and cooperation make
it successful. l'e may safely direct. but You
must be the motive power. We wish then,
to bring dairymeu together for discussion.
for a comparison ofindIyidual expericnc e A;
fact hv fact. one ald2d to another, and thus
at last Il science Is established. Let us also
form habits of close observation. Tor IN tins
way alone may we accumulate facts and ad-
vance our knowledge.
When the dairymen are awakened to the
Importance and usefulness OF meetings Tor
mutual improvement, the ASSOCIATION naS
done a material part of the work ior when
it was organized. Dairymen associations
are in existence IN other States, and unless
dairymen of Vermont mean to iall behind,
they must take hold of the work. Previous
meetings of this association have been sue
cessful in exciting interest where they were
held. The people are beginning 70 see
that we are falling behind in some branches
of the dairy, and are willing TO take hold
and endeavor to remedy the evil, and put
VERMONT where she should be as New
England State. in the front rank OF pro-
gress. Once started among our dalrymen,
this spirit of progress Will not be arrested
When We realize our Deficiencies, and with
concert of action begin the attempt to
remedy them. it will be done. OrganiZa-
tion i necessary, in order to proceed in the
MDrk eutcllNtlN. 1 nv ulAAhAAAt 'AAA 'i go
the business of this association l. to max
men and women.
The practical results OF our efforts viii
be to educate and refine our people, to ia
troduce them 70 a broader and finer culture,
and lift them directly into higher plane
of existence to enlarge and elevate their
souls. The influence of the association Will
lead not only to the making of better but
ter and cheese but the making of better
men and women. The association Is wor-
thy the cordial support of the dairymen
and farmers of the State
There is one thing | would like to i'm
press forcibly upon your minds. Every
dairyman and farmer in Vermont, in the
United States, aye in the world, ought 10
take AT least one agricultural paper, ana
read IL too. and make every capable mem-
ber of his family read it. Every man who
cultiyates rod of ground ought to take
one lt is great help to any man to have
the benefit of other men : experience To add
to his own. and that Is precisely what he
gets by these excellent papers. And not
only thiS, but he is likely to get the expert
ence OF the brightest and ablest farmers in
the country, for these are the men that
usually contribute to them ; they have
done more to the Improvement of dalrying
and farming than even agricultural fairs.
| will venture to say, that If there were no
such publications, you would have no agrl-
cultural societies, and no meetings like this.
The man is sure to get behind who does not
read them. Go every one of you, and sub
scribe for an agricultural paper. and take it
as long as You live. and in your last will
and testament. direct your executors 10
continue the subscription for the benefit Of
your widow and children. And if you get
no other idea from me to-day, 1t will pay
you veil for being bored by my speech.
There is another thing you ought to do {:
establish in every neighborhood a farmers
club, where you can meet together for one
evering in week or fortnight for discus
sions of all questions pertaining to your
business. This will have two good effects :;
each man will acquire the combined wis
dom OF all, and each man will learn to use
his brains and tongue. And then on our
practical dairymen and farmers will deyolve