Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1875-01-20
Could you rest quiet in your home while it
possible for him to obtain that which can
bring him to this? x.
ODaning Address.

We come here today in accordance with
our bylaws and articles of association, and
trust the meeting will be made of interest
and usefulness to all. 1t should be remem-
bered that the value of such meetings as
this must depend very much upon the
manner in which those in attendance are
interested and signify Il Willingness to
make them of most practical account
1t must not be supposed that this meet
ing is inaugurated merely as 4 matter of
entertainment, where people may come
simply to pass an idle hour.-It is 4 farm
ers and dairyman's meeting where every
person present will have liberty to speak,
to give the result of experiment or ex
pericnce, and compare his own practice
with that of others. Your secretary has
invited Il number Of speakers of eminent
abiityto present You their views on special
topics, concerning which they are familiar,
and upon which they have given much
thought. 1t cannot be expected among
persons following different practices that
my one is at Il moment ready to change
his views. We need discussion and COM
parison of views. one with the other, that
we may be able to get ut the best practice
and thus make progress and Improvement
1t is hoped that whatever views may be
put forth at any session of this association
they may receive full attention and discus
sion, and | ask that whenever an error be
promul gated. it be arrested and nailed
down. DO not sit silent and give it coun-
tenancc. The history of meetings for the
discussion of topics relating to the dairy
goeS back but eleven Years. The first
public meeting was in january, 1861.
Since that time there has been large
number of dairy associations formed-statc
md local-and the knowledge obtained on
this subject is eXte nsive. and its value can
scarcely be estimated. | think it may be
safely sid that no branch of agriculture
has made such rapid strides as that relating
20 the dairy. There is none in which YOU
will find minds more intelligent or more
ripe for investigation.
| know that there are croakers on this
subject rs well us on all others, that these
associations and the factory system have
been an injury to the dairy business. There
IRE men who hold tlltt were it not for the
factory system and the spread Of intelli-
mence on this subject of cheese making the
business would have been confined to the
cheese making counties Of this state and Il
few counties in York state, and the dairy
men in these localities would have things
their own way. Such men take narrow
views of life and business There is nothing
farther from the truth-IIad it not been for
the ftctory system and the spread of intel
ligrncc which has cNertcd such Il power in
the education of manufacturing. the dairy
men of the state would long since have
been ruined.
Does any one suppose thrt the great
bulk of American cheese and butter as
made fifteen CT twenty wears ago-cheeSc
soft, >lu>hy. liable to fall in pieces, easily
tainted and sometimes Il thousand strong
butter white. soft. and rancid-could make
such way in the home market or any other
l. the fancy butter and cheese of today ?
Could any of us be induced to buy and eat
freely of poor ana imperfect butter or
cheese at any cost? No, no; the people
want Il good thing: something that is
attractive in flavor, and which gives pleas
IRE in the eating. Does any one suppose
hat without this flood of light that has
been poured in upon Us from meetings of
this Kind and from the press. the great
bulk Of the butter and cheese today would
be- any better than the butter and cheese
OF fifteen OF twenty Years ago?
We are fast doing away with the prciu-
dice against our dairy products in all the
markets where our goods are sold, and We
have forced tie English to admit that our
product is quite equal to the best English
make and they are Introducing our factory
system in order to keep their make equal
IN quality to ours.
Bv the good character of our butter and
cheese. we have created an immense home
market which coIld not have been done
with poor quality of goods Efforts at
Improvement must be constant and I'M
rclnitting from year to year. We often
! hear dairy producers say that they are
4 making IL perfect goods rs can be made
from milk. 1t is a great misfortune to be
- con2citcd. The properties of milk are
not vet half understood. Skill in handling
and care in producing ii are Just beginning
L. receive attention. If we would riS,
/ hi cher. we must strive harder to improve
our ar. Science must be called to ON
aid a constant watchfulncSs in observing
results communication between dairy
men should be more frequent and full
ORG mutations like this one are among tn,
most efficient means of progress. w,
iced not only Il STATE association. but one
in every county and town, that does any
thing ut dairyinT, to discuss questions
offer suggestions, detail experience an,
compare results. Very little progress i
made by single handed labor
The old system of private ,lairying dem
on>trltcd thi~. 1t is associated effort TIN,
moves the cause along. and the mole w
have of it the better. The future of tn
dairy interest is intimately connected Will
it, results. 1t brings out Improvement
in manufacture, and improved goods brins
high prices and prosperity. Fine butte
and cheese have never failed nor nevc
will fail t. sell we'll and bring good I,
turns. 1t is the poor goods that spoil tn
market.
Passing along the street a few dav
since by Tie graded school in my village
asked Il Young lad of ten or twelve year
of my acquaintance what studies he WI
pm suing this winter, he replied that h
WAS taking French and Lrtin. | knew
personally that he hal not half mlsterc,
the first rudimenS of the English Ian
rua~r; WAS not even Il good reader
English. The thought came to me tn;
there must be something very wrong
oar educational system, when youth III
GENERALLY untitled for the station wlic
they are to occupy, or are forced into pr,
LESSONS for which the have no natural ii
ness.
The truth is that the youth of our cou,
trv are taught to aim high. and the assu
ancc given them that they can all h
anything that they choose to become. III
essential nuis;lnces. Our children all Q
to the public school. They are taugl
these things. They all go ont into tn
t world with high notions and find it har
! to content themsveles with their lot. The
had hoped tn realize in life that which hi
been promised them in school, but a
t their dreams have faded and left them d
t appointed and unhappy. They envy thos
whom they have been taught to considt
above them, and learn to count their ow
lives failure.
: American laborers are almost obsolct
] all common employments are at Il di
count. the professions are crowded t
. Overlooking the country through wit
n dcmagogues. and a general discontcl
t with a humble lot prevails, because II