Litchfield enquirer., 1874-01-01
Meeting of the State Board ofAgri-
 culture at Meriden.

The morning of Wednesday was Occu- pied with the lecture of T. $. Gold, upon the causes of sterility in our domestic an- imals, and the discussion that followed. Great loss occurs to our farmers from the this cause, especially in animals highly bred. The overlooking which is resOrted to to prepare animals for the fairs, is the most frequent cause of sterility. The owner of fine bull may gain premium by pampering him, but lose the animal for his most valuable uses.
 In the afternoon we had an exceedingly interesting and valuable lecture upon commercial fertilizers at home and abroad" from Professor Atwater of Wes- leyan university, giving us the results of his studies, snd observations in the exper- mental agricultural schools of Germany. He showed very exclusively that these fer tlllzers were of very much better quality, and cheaper than the same articles in this country, and thus better quality was ow- ing to these agricultural stations, where every manufacturer of manures, every dealer, and every farmer could have his fertilizers analysed, and their commercial value very accurately determined. There were twenty-three of these experimental stations in Prussia, and many in other k~AOS VI NOAA4AhhJ AbfLAJ3 HI II and England. Commercial manures were sold on analysis, and were warranted by the manufacturer, and by the wholesale dealer to contain given quantities of ann monia, phosphoric acid, and potash, the most valuable constituents of good fer tilizer. The farmer had the means of knowing just what he bought when he carried home ton or two of superphos- phate of lime or bone dust. There was a perfect control of the market for fertih- gers by means of these schools, and there was now very little fraud, the farmers got what they paid for, and the cultivation of the soil was much more satisfactory there than here. In this country the frauds in fertilizers are so notorious that our most intelligent farmers have lost all confidence in them. We can buy good Prussian guano of the government agents but its cost IS excessive. We can buy superphos- phate of lime, but unless we have it an- alyzed at large expense, we do not know whether it IS worth forty dollars ton or four. which will not pay for handling. In this state we have some safeguard against fraud in our state chemists, but it costs more than most farmers are willing to pay to detect the frauds in these fertilizers. We want these experimental stations in this country, not only as means of detect ing frauds in fertilizers, but as centers of knowledge, where theories can be tested, and information be communicated on tho practical details of agriculture. The iveliest interest was manifested in the discussion and @ committee was appointed to report upon the practicability of insti- tuting a farm school in Connecticut, upon the German plan,
 The evening was occupied by the read ing of a paper upon Farm Yard manures, by Albert Day of Brooklyn, and tho dis cussion that followed. A large variety of practice in the treatment and application of stable manures was brought to light showing that we have no fixed principles in the use of stable manures. There was a fine show of fruit at the close of the meeting and lively discussion of another sort.
 The board visited the State Reform school Thursday morning before it's first session and spent an hour or more in the school room, work shops, and barn. This institution, under the care of Dr. ID. W. Hatch, is not only the most successful re- form school i'll the country, but one of the best managed farms in the state, and .the board had occasion to admire the or der and thrift apparent in the hay mows, cribs, roof bins, stables, pens and stock, as well as the magnetic influence which the doctor yields over three hundred and twenty boys whom parents and friends have failed to manage well. It is one of the grandest things the state of Conpecti- cut has ever aone to gather these bad
 boys in this Christian home where they are efectually controlled, taught in the clements of good education Tn the school, disciplined to useful labor, care fully instructed in their duties to God and man, and made useful citizens. The most of the boys placed here are saved to themselves and to society.
 The morning discussion on ''night soiI' was opened by paper from Mir. Yeomans, giving in detail his own methods of say ing and using this very valuable fertili- ger.
 It was shown in the discussion that fol- lowed that the neglect os this material in the country and in our cities and villages,
 was very common cause of disease, es- l CONCLUDED OK FOURTH PAaE.l