Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1874-04-17
Farmers Meetings.


AT a meeting Of the Farmers Institution,
held at Amherst Mass, some weeks ago,
Mr.. Stockbridge Of the Agricultural Col
lege was present, aud at the close Of the
protracted discussion was invited to speak.
He said he had been considerably interested
in what had been said, but did not want to
60 over the ground again. Here" he ad-
ded, "are u lot of bright, smart, observing
men, who have had from ten to fifty years
experience, and have not settled fundamental
questions, which any mechanic weuld have
settled In four years, it they related to his
craft, so that they would never need to be
opened for discussion again. You can't End
a more intelligent body of farmers than are
here assembled, and yet they know nothing.
One man knows one thing, and another
knows that the FIRST is utterly mistaken.
Why not take Que question at a tune, and
settle it, SO that il will stay settled2 The
prime needs of agriculture are knowledge
aud system"
The description hero given Of the char
Acter Of the talk at this farmers meeting
will apply to a large majority Of those held
10 other sections during the winter. Farm.
ers' meetings are unfortunately not so en-
cOuraging as discouragng to those who
really sock knowledge. For the most part
the time is taken up by class Of men who
really know nothing of the topics upon
which they declaim, and when practical farm
ers get the floor, they are too apt to DRIFT
into dreamy controversy about some mat
ter which is of the least possible consequence.
Farmers meetings in some important feat
ures are like doctors meetings they settle
nothing. At the close, the mind is left in a
state OF greater confusion and doubt than be-
fore discussion was entered upon, and the par
Elephants 20 to their homes feeling that there
is nothing certain in soil cultivation. Ii in
these meetings some clear-headed, observant
man presents facts of real value, up jumps
his neighbor and proceeds to show that he il
mistaken, and that the statements are dis.
proved by his experiments carried on 10 the
same direction. In this way absolute truth
and most valuable facts lose their influence
We have often been not only discouraged
but highly amused at these discussions
The old, threadbare questions, il the sessions
are protracted, are sure to come up care
leachcd ashes Us valuable as unleached fol
farm purposes T. "Is gas-house lime good
and safe iertilizer?' "ls green corn fodder
Of value for mich cows ?" lis deep plowinG
better than shallow plowing2" "Is it best tC
spread manure on grass lands ?" These euC
dozen more topics continue to be discussed
with zeal and pertinacity, just as if they haC
not been talked about aud conclusions reach
ed thousand times during the past ten OF
twenty years. To spend two or three hours
IN listening to debates which shed no light OF
any point or principle in sensible husbandry
is downright waste Of time If, durinI
the period siuce agriculture became sub
ject of accurate and careful study we hav,
settled nothing, the prospect in future is dis
couraging enough. But we have settle
many questions, aud they should not b,
opened again. 1t is certain that upleacheC
wood .ashes are worth to the farmer more tina
double the leached; that gas.house lime
not only in genera! valueless but delete
rious to NEST soils that green corn fodder
II raised in drills with full access Of ligh
aud air, is highly nutritious and valuable, bu
IL raised from broadcast sowing in clos
mass, is almost worthless. 1t is certain tina
deep blowing on a great variety OF soils j
better than shallow, and that manure sprea,
on grass lands, under iavoring conditions
will give profitable grass returns. A elias
Of men attend farmers meetings who seer
TO make it their business to disput" ever
statement offered, and senseess controvers
takes the place Of instructive debate. Thos
who have important facts to present, fact
derived from experience and careful expert
ment, are confronted by stupidity aud ignO
rance. and the best thoughts and deduction
are lost sight of in the general rubbish {
vapid talk and disputations.
Another class Of men fluid their way int
farmers meetings-the cheap politicians, an
caucus managers. They care nothing fc
the farming interests, and have no other OF
ject but to secure an opertunity to promot
selfish ends, and conduct political intrigue'
If these men cannot be kept out Of farmers
meetings, it will be better to abolish theI
altogether. 1t is time that the great intel
ests of husbandry we're raised to highe
plane. Science and observation have reall
accomplished much, and the path of progrei
must not he obstructed by any obstac
which can be moved readily by the tru
friends of progressive northumberland
: Journal Of Chemistry