The Portland daily press., 1875-02-20
State Board OF Agriculture.
Reported for the Press.l

LhoPoilou loI tue freSs.l
WATERvILLE, Feb. Is.
AS you have already noticed, the interests of
the dany have received espe cial attention at
this meeting. This arises from the fact that
so many cheese factories have been put in oper
alton in the state, and that such an eminent
authority as Prof Arnold was present and gave
two lectures on his speciality. Prof A. is a
graduate of Union College, and now resides at
Rochester, N. Y. He has been for several
years connected with the press, either as an
editor or as contributor to the agricultural de-
partments. Thoroughly versed id the natural
sciences, familiar with the works of distin
guished agriculturists abroad, and practical
operator in cheese factories, creameries and
private dairies, he is surpassed by no one in the
country, either in his experience or acquisitions.
1t is probable that no man now lives who has
made so many original Investigations or useful
discoveries in this department. The session
this forenoon was wholly occupied with his lee
ture on "Mlk," and replies TO multitude of
questions. A report of this and the preceding
lecture will be more satisfactory to your read
ers than brief abstract.
Some reference was made by the members to
the general complaint that it was very difficult
to ''bring butter" the present winter. This
was attributed to the severity of the weather.
Scalding milk was generally found to remove
the trouble One dairyman always succeeded
by the addition of little vinegar.
Prof nj. G. Fernald of the State College,
gave lecture in the afternoon upon "The in
fuence of education on lal orr asserting that
profitable labor requires intelligence, that ig-
norant labor is always poorly paid, barely OBJ
tanning the necessaries of life.
At one of the Lowell mills, with its 1900 op
eratives, only DO were unable to read and write.
and their wages were 27 per cent, less than the
Others Another mill had among its operatives
15O girls who had been teachers, whose COM
pensation was Is per cent. higher than the av-
erage, and 40 above those who could only make
their mark. Educated labor and skilled labor
differ; centuries ago the skilled artisans of the
East made cotton cloth,-to-day single Yam
kee girl manufactures as much as 5000 of their
descendants are able to do. Capital is the ac-
cumulation of skilled labor; before you can
add to it, the wages of labor and skill must be
paid. Educated labor belongs to both classes,
includes both labor and skill. Mind enters
into every effort of the hand, and controls its
results. All agricultural and mechanical en-
ployments requiring skill should be considered
liberal professions. 1t is complained that edu-
cation leads men out of industrial pursuits; it
is not so generally, as the statistics Of indus
trial institutions show large percentage of
their graduates still engaged in them. All the
advantages derived from these institutions be-
4 nd fhrnn nO IN
them they will be enabled to take the places of
many classes of men who belong elsewhere.
A paper was read by Mr.. Boardman on La
bor and Capital" from Mr.. Hight of Skowhe-
gan. Its general drift was that high farming
requires capital, and that capital cannot e OBJ
tained by the farmer, as banks and capitalists
prefer to accommodate merchants and other
business men, and therefore there will be but
little progress and improvement in general
husbandry.
In short discussion on Fruit Culture
Mr.. Smith, veteran orchardist, dropped few
hints. An apple tree will grow wherever
rock maple tree will. Set them about two
rods apart each way. Baldwins do best on high
ground-prefers to graft them in the branches.
Plant when four years old-if they have been
previously transplanted from the nursery
Don't retain too much top, the roots cannot
supply the excess of evaporation from the
leaves. 4 - E.F
Mr.. J. w. Lang's paper in the closing even
ing session, your reporter did not hear. From
the criticisms upon it, made by Messrs. Dun
ham of Bangor, and Dow of Watervile, it was
evident that its tendencies were somewhat dan
gerous. They replied, that they did not think
that farmers as a class were oppressed, or de-
prived of the comforts of life; nor didNhey
approve the policy of attempting to persuade
them to believe this, or of advising them to
raise less in order to get higher prices, or in
any way creating discomfort among them.
AS the Board control the disposition of one
half of the grant to agricultural societies, they
will direct that they offer one half OF that sum
for the encouragement of orchards or nurseries;
and that they elect for the remainder, either
the introduction of thoroughbred stock within
their limits, or add to farmers clubs through
lectures OF libraries.
A very courteous and hospitable invitation
came from some of the enterprising and prom
inent citizens of Calais, for the fall meeting of
the Board. A session there would afford an
opportunity for very pleasant interchange OF
Enpli sh and American speakers and hearers.