Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-03-12
Reported for the vEaNoNr FARMER.
Board Of Agriculture at Bethel.

The meeting Thursday, March 4, was near
ly failure on account of the storm. No
member of the board was able to reach the
meeting until evening, when Col Mead ar
rived and at 7 o'clock small number col
lected in the Depot House Hall, Col. Mead
in the chair, and Il. $. Haskins secretary
pro tenn.
Voted to postpone the programme and dis
cuss resolution offered by Rev. T. s. Hub
bard That it is our duty rs farmers to so
improve the culture of eur lands and intro
duce such variety of crops rs greatly to in
crease our aggregate products" Mr.. Hub
bard urged very earnestly the need OF better
cultivation so rs to at least double present
crops, and if we do not know how to do it
we should learn how and not rest satisfied
until we can do it. He took UP each of the
staple crops, and dwelt at length upon the
idea that double the amount now produced
would not be too much to strive and hope
for. If this is done all the property of the
state would be doubled. He spoke of the
cause of the present failure of fruit crops and
said it was for want of proper care. He had
from experience seen plum aud cherry trees
preserved from the ravages of black knot,
and kept in bearing after others neglected
had gone to decay by putting around them n
mixture of salt, SCOT, and iron filings. with
the addition of little lime. He spoke Of
the great amount of apples that are annually
brought into the state, instancing one grocer
from Ten in Rutland who the present winter
had brought from the state of New Jersey
1000 barrels, and this was no doubt the prac-
tice in all or nearly all the large towns in
Vermont. This should be deplored, the
cause sought, and remedy applied.
Mr.. j. c. Mckenzie, of Woodstock, said
that he knew fruit could be grown in YER
mont, spoke of his own success, said he mar
keted $50 barrels Of very fine apples last fall.
As TO improving our general crops thinks we
cannot depend much upon commercial fer
tilIzers. Upon being questioned said that
orchard lands must be cultivated until the
trees are so large rs to prevent; then they
should be thoroughly and annually mulched
with straw, swamp hay, or rs he practiced
to NOW the grass growing about the trees
and leave it near the trunks of same. Should
not plant an orchard in the warmest places.
prefer northwest slope. He thought many
varieties would not ripen well on northern
exposure. Docs not apply any wash to his
trees except soap suds to the warm nests.
Great interest was manifested in Mr.. Nc
Kennels statements.
At this stage ofthe meeting Rev. Mr.. Hub
bard read an interesting paper upon the RE
latiou of virtue to an improved agriculture"
lie spoke of the various vices practiced by
farmers such rs profanity, extravaganza in
living beyond their income. the use of tobac-
co, alcoholic liquors, and gambling, and all
that follows in their train tending to degrade
them and their calling; and in contrast the
virtues of enterprise, honesty, and lrugality,
were held up to view and shown to be close
ly allied to an improved agriculture. Dis
cussion followed.
Mr. ii. w. Vail, of Pomfret, spoke upon
the subject advocating rs his belief the FEAST
bility of farming being conducted more in
the line of speeiaHies; thought the failure of
many farmers was caused by their trying to
do too much and too many things.
Col. Mead would if possible supplement
and enforce Mr.. Wallis remarks in this re-.
spcct, that farmers should choose some par
ticular branch of husbandry and then set to
work to thoroughly understand their bust
ness. We farm too much Mt haphazard I;
know too little of the relation of cause to
effect our minds occupied with too many
subjects TO make success of either. Edwin
Hammond gave the work of his life to the
theory and practice of sheep breeding and
perhaps ted the world in this regard. No
one mind can successfully follow and master
too many things. Go INTO any one of the va
rieus manufacturing establishments of the
day, and every man has particular thing
to do, and has no excuse if he does not do it
we'll How little we know Of the science of
breeding or of veterinary science. Facili-
ties for knowledge in these things should be
by the state and nation lostered and increas-
ed. When our boys can learn well the trade
Of the farmer they will not so much loathe
| it.
Friday Morning.
Meeting opened this morning with discus
sion by Mr.. Ballard, of Gaysvile. upon the
topic of agriculture at large" lie spoke Of
the exhaustive system of cropping. Advo-
Gated the practice, for the saving of the llq-
uid manure. of the use of sod well rotted as
litter for the stables. If We would practice
rs we'll as we know in our calling we might
reasonably hope for better success. And vel
we are the most ignorant OF our business o
all the people in the world.
Our fathers raised all they derived from
the primitive soil, while we, contented t.
follow in their footsteps, are but robbing oul
acres by successive cropping of the essentia
elements as food for plants. His experience,
was that Is loads of chemicalized manur,
was worth more than so loads OF crude ma
nure. Advocates top dressing; thinks We
do not put our seed in deep enough; large