Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1874-01-15
The Farmers Meeting at East Montpelier

Manufactures ana Mining, at EtSl hont-
pelier on Thursday and Friday OF last
week, was, despite the rain and heavy
thaw of the first day, complete success.
The storm of the night and morning pre-
vious, prevented but meagre attendance
at the first session, holden Thursday after
noon. The only members of the Board
present at the opening, Were its secretary
Prof Collier of Burlington, and DR.. Hos
kins of st. Johnsbury with bundle OF the
"Vermont Farmers" tucked away under
| his arm.
Hon. Clark King of East Montpelier,
was chosen chairman of the meeting, and
presided throughout with rare efficiency
and dignity. Hon Addison Peck made a
brief, but very neat and appropriate ad-
dress of We come to the Board, i'll its en-
beavers to advance the cause of agricul-
ture by holding this meeting for discuss
ion. Agriculture was an important call
inc, and we'll worthy the thought and res
pect of all classes of society. 1t was the
foundation basis of all trades and profess
ions. Farmers compelled the earth to
yield up her treasures for the sustcnance
of mankind. They raised what they eat,
which is true of no other class. The ag-
riculturist is worthy the fostering care OF
the government. Our Legislature, recog-
nizing this fact, has created the Board OF
Agriculture, made our Governor and men
most noted for wisdom and practical
science, members of it. It had directed
meetings for discussion and investigation,
to be holden in various parts of the State.
This meeting is one of that series. We
thank the Board for appointing it to this
town. We welcome them to our homes.
We should and will cooperate with them
in the good work of disseminating agrl-
cultural knowledge, and thus make pleas
ant their labors, while we gather profit
therefrom Young men need seek no more
honorable field of labor than the one Moth
er Earth offers them. That surely is most
honorable which gives life and prosperity
to individuals and the commonwealth
And now he would leave the general dis
ctlssion of particular topics to those who
had been especially selected for that pur-
pose.
Prof Collier said no part had been as
+ signed him. but he desired To emphasize
the remarks already made. Moreover, W,
desire lively discussion on the papers Il
be read These ESSAYS will be printed il
the local papers and can be digeSted a
ones leisure. But the spice of discussion
will be lost and found wanting unless WI
; sprinkle it in here and enjoy it while w
are assembled. There may he sweeping
assertions INDUCED in. If any one las oh
iections thereto, let him state them. We
desire the views of all men, that we may
compare and then judge which are rich
and which wrong.
A. NJ Foster of Cabot, then read a pa
per entitled. "CroWin@ and Selecting
: .ends." which Is printed in full on ouI
fourth page The discussion which fol
lowed this paper. took wide range, an'
was lively" enough to suit even the PRO
fesSor. Nh Foster was freely Piled viii
T questions. and after him other men Wtr,
called up and compelled to show fortl
their opinions. and !, late their * pgrirucc
In reply to interro%atorics Mr.. Fo,tc
aid he believed in wheat raising. Fo
this he wanted good land, we'll prepared
He followed Il corn crop with wheat. an'
had the hest results We need To- bette
cultivate and prepare the land for thi
crop. He eoWcd two Bushels to the acre
using the " Dodge Wheat. With Wh,a
of a smaller kernel one and a half hu-Ici
might suffice for the seeding. lie J;>e.
the Harvest Queen Separator Ia screen hi
seed. and exhibited specimens OF the result
Preferred to harrow with the rotary liar
row a. leaving the land more level an'
frcer from -oi-. >uW- !y hIEd
= brushes in with a plank flooring mad
E feet long each plank tapping two inche
over the next one. Prefers fall and ~prn.
blowing for thorough puIvcriza,ion "
soil Would SOW a. carly - possible il
the spring His soil was Il dark brown
containing slate or ironStonc. Wheat pay
him better than oats or any other crops
His soil not adapted to oats. His average
Weld of wheat was 80 bushels per acre
of oats had never raised 50 bushels t" th'
acre. sometimes only 3D. Never use pla~
ter on wheat crops; tried it once on tin
seed and was told it would result in >mu
but it didn't Ashes and salt are goo,
fertilizers for this crop. \ bush"l Of sal
Vi
\. ID. Arms detailed his experience viii
: wheat received from the Agriculture
Department. He tried three kinds of win
ter whcat-the Tappahannock, the Canad
White and one other the name of Whic
, escaped us The Canada White took tn
| first premium at the New England FAN
1 but the society took the wheat. From III
Tappahannock he made flour equal to tn
southern winter wheat flour
DR.. Hoskins said Mr.. Reyes of Newbur
; used salt as fertilizer for wheat.
e brightens and strengthens the straw IN
L gives Il nice berry.
The potato question was ably discu>Sr
|, in all its phases by Messrs Foster, \. ]
: Arms. f. w. Ormsbee, \. DwinclI. +. !
Il Andrews, j. +. HOLSTER, \. J. lIolli>tel
y DR.. TIoskins, Prof. Collier, l.. I. Mallor
and other gentlemen whose names W
It failed to catch. The conclusions rcache
II was that the seed end should be diScarde
d in planting; that the potato should be Ct
u lengthwise into pieces containing not MOI
than four eyes each, pieces to be larg
* enough to nourish the plant Us it start,
: that the phenomenon of rank vines pre-
= ducing forty-eeven small potatoes couI
4 not be accounted for; that potato vine
a were rich in potash. and should be returno
+ to the ground; that large topped varieti'
% We're Objectionable unless enormous yiel'
% ers; and that seed be selected in the fal
IS Some other opinions We're not so general
# accepted.
The subject of seed corn and corn groy
v ing was next taken up, and most interes
: ing and profitable discussion was held,
which Messrs. A. NJ. Foster, j. f. IIolli
-, ter, \. J. HOLSTER. ID. B. Wheelock, .
~ Dwinell. T. c. Kelton and others toe
u prominent part The opinions and fac
IL elected were of such interest and value til
we reserve our lengthy minutes of the
for publication in a future paper.
1t was now " chore time " and the NEE
Y ing adjourned till evening.
y, THURSDAY EVENING SESSION.
A large delegation of the fair ladies
EaSt Montnelier .,ccnlnnaniel thnil h1l