The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-12-01
BOARD OF AGRICULTURE.
Address Delivered Before the Board Of
Agriculture, at West Rutland, Monday
Nov. goth, by ]. E, Manley, ESQ

L
10 us in that catholic spirit in which the
board was organized, and every one,
farmer or not, may go from this
meeting with new ideas and new zeal for
the labors in which they are engaged. and
you will bear with me, gentlemen, if use
the phrase with some pride that in behalf
of the citizens of West Rutland we would
welcome you to the richest town in mineral
wealth in our noble state and while you
may remind US of new acquisitions and
new ideas in agricultural pursuits, we may
crafty you with view of rich mines of
inexhaustable mineral wealth and with
mutual interchange of feelings and
thought, we may make This mteling one of
enlarged views and enhanced interest.
The object of the board is two-fold by
the proper cultivation of the soil and mind
for success in agricultural pursuits are
guaged and enlarged as the mind is edu-
Gated to grasp Alright familiar principles
and generate new ideas which may be
brought into full play in the progressive
features of agricultural labor.
1t is marvellous that farming has not at
tanned greater perfection, since no science
has greater antiquity. Each farmer should
be chemist to certain extent, enabling
him to become familiar with the nature of
the soil he cultivates so that being aided by
science he will not be compelled to rely
upon useless experiments to know what
soil will furnish proper food Tor the various
crops grown upon Vermont soil, and can
If the soil is deficient in the proper .requi-
sites for the crops he wishes to raise, tell
what kind of fertilizer to use to produce
the desired result. All this may be known
through proper scientific research within
the reach of every intelligent farmer.
Farmers cultivate as n general thing too
much land-the thirst for new acquisitions
to the old homestead is such that many
farmers become land poor and often the
entire estate if not sacrificed to the greedy
money-lender becomes overrun with brakes
and thistles and the land thereby greatly
deprecated in value. 1t is the object then
of this board to lead the farmer, the me-
chanic and the quarryman TO a higher
plane of usefulness and enterprise.
1t has been in the past as is the object of
this organization to guard against such
system of farming and land holding as
drives from our homes and our state the
most enterprising of our sons and daugh-
tiers. Let the old homestead be divided
and neat and suitable dwellings erected for
the soHs when they return from school and
state will be elevated and less of the for
eign element will take possession of the
soil.
Papers of great practical value to the
farmer and the citizen have been from
time to time introduced through its able
secretary and the members of the board
based upon scientific principles, which arc
to-day aiding thousands of the toiling SONS
of Vermont, bidding them seek higher
places of influence and enterprise and al.
ready MANY enternris;ns farmers are in
struc,inr III masses through information
gained at these meetings to embrace new
principles which will be of great practca
benefit through all coming time.
This board seeks the proper direction of
capital in seeking in an advising manner
the best means of investment, and as it has
been shown and will doubtless be shown
here at this session, that with equal, judi
cious investment the farm can be enabled
to pay as well as the quarry, the shop OF
| the store.
| Let the farmers of Vermont use that anx
ious care and solicitude in the proper die
position of crops upon the different soil
| and right selections of stock that the mer
chant does in the selection of his goods an(
the same system in use in selling and re-
plenishing his stock, and the result will b,
equally gratifying. Vermont is properly
an agricultural state. yet her mining inter
| ests in marble, ore and slate excel in rich
ness and value that of the same territory il
| any other state in the Union. The boart
has on former occasions given statistics il
marble and slate which have found the
way into many OF the journals in this coun
| try and in Europe, thereby disseminating
L To-, taI. .,f s<o
citizen of Vermont, because 1t is the i'm
portance of the wealth and power of stat
which keeps her young aud enterprisin.
men at home.
| This board seeks to make farming sucl
an intellectual feast as that the many VIII,
are seeking elsewhere fields for the dlspla,
of genius may find here in Vermont, in tn
cultivation of the soil and the raising o
stock, ample fields of labor for our son
who are fitted, many of them by birth AM
education, for responsible positions in so
ciety and the varied duties OF life thereb,
raising the standard of society and estab
fishing within her precincts a higher an,
better element of social reform, and in thi
way will the intelligent sons and daugh
| tiers
Love their native state,
Here FIX their homes 80 high, so pure,
That all may call them great.
Let them so enlarge and beautify ever,
element of success and prosperity tina
"her empire shall not westward move" bu
here with the highest safeguards of society
protected by higher and nobler intelli
gence, displayed in each turn of progress
that are as lasting as her green hills shall
her empire stand. Vermont is the brightes
state set in the dladem of states. He
glory is enhanced and her praises sung b.
cultured sons and daughters in every land
Proud as has been her record In the con
flict of arms, prouder yet may it be for he
when her sons and daughters shall, as the
may to-day, find the fullest advantagesIfo
a higher education in our own schools an
colleges, agricultural as well as scientific
and with these advantages we have all tina
is necessary to built up in our midst NOR
perfect system of agricultural ethics. TIL
passer by will mark almost at glance tn
farmer where the owner has been to th
manor born, and loves the avocation il
which he is engaged his fences will be il
good repair, his barns and house painted
his horses and cattle properly sheltered an
everything exhibits an air of thrift an
prosperity.
The object of the board is also one O
protection. The forests, which "wer
Gods first temples" need the fostering car
which the genius of a cultured mind vii
inevitably give, for the forests..are grea
protection from the severe weather blast
of winter as well as against the heat O
summer, adding also beauty to the land
scape and richness and moisture to the soil
The water power of the state is receivin
due attention from this organization an
will doubtless create an interest in this dI
rection, resulting in more extensive us
of the best power for propelling machinery
combining safety and cheapness in thei
employment.
| But'in order that the greatest benefit ma
result from the employment of this motiy
power, capital must be loaned upon sue
terms as will guarantee success in ever
manufacturing enterprise and in this wa
the industries commence IN almost ever,
state where similar facilities exist, NAV no
be wanting In our own.
1t is the aim of this board to give prone
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