Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1876-01-21

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not sufficiently practical, and that whom thil
difficulty IL remedied education will not lead
the young away from industrial pursuits.
Mr. u. II. Jameson followed the line o
thought expressed in the essay, and enlarged
upon the Importance OF a change in our public
system of teaching. lie held that parent.
should take an active part IN the training o
their children aud not leave it all to the
state.
Prof Seely thought that many young mer
are driven from the farm because farmers
themselves have not sufficiently honored theil
own profession, and have looked upon Other
avocations as more honorable. He agreed
with DIR II. that science aud practice had
been divorced in the schools, TO the great
injury Of those taught there. He thought
an agricultural college founded and man.
aged by practicsl farmers who are also edu.
Gated mcn would be success.
Mr. Story Of IrSsburgh said his expert.
ence was that boys were often driven from
the farm by being over-worked, and that
they are often permanently injured by II, as
well as disgusted. He thought If farmers
would use their boys as well as they do their
colts they would like the farm better.
Mr. Smith of the board said he agreed
with DIR Spalding of Barre that boys ought
not to work while they are studying.
Rev MIR Smith thought there was some.
thing fundamentally wrong in our educational
system, and be agreed with DIR ii. that it
was in the direction of the want of connec.
tion between learning and life, lie spoke
of the indifference OF parents to the schools.
He did not think any farmer would leave
bis colts so completely in the hands of any
man as he usually does his children. He
was glad to see tho college professors and
presidents attending these agricultural meet
ings and learning the views and wishes Of the
farmers
II. G. Cleveland said he never could get
an opportunity to learn what he wanted to
know in school. lie has had to learn it
outside Of school, BY reading aud obssrva-
tion.
DR. Hoskins remarked that Mr. Olevcland's
experience confirmed his own views in regard
TO the incapacity Of our school system to
furnish the sort of instruction demanded by
those who wish to devote themselves to prac.
tical pursuits and especially TO farming.
Tuesday Erening.
The evening exercises we're opened by the
reading of an essay upon Thought and La
Dor, or the Relations of Science aud Agrcul.
ture," by Prot Seely, secretary Of the board.
An abstract Of this carefully elaborated aud
scholarly paper has already appeared.
This was followed by m address from
President Hubert Of Middebury college,
entitled, The Work for our Schools of
Learning" This grand panegyric of culture
was listened to with breathless interest by
an assembly Of farmers and farmers wives,
who listened eagerly to hear a college pres.
dent euogize not only the culture of the
class room, but the culture that comes also
from faithful work aud careful observation,
and earnest study upon the farm.
Wednesday Morning..
Hon L. p. Cotton of lrasburgh addressed
the meeting upon the subject OF Southern
Agriculture" with particular reference to
his recent observations in Virginia, North
Carolina. South CaroiDa and Georgia. Mr.
Cotton gave a rather discouraging account
of things upon the Southern farms and plan
tatiOus. Every crop is mortgaged before it
is made. None OF these states raise more than
n small proportion Of their own bread and
meat No farmer gets profit from his
land no laborer makes moro than a living
from his labor. Yet much of the southern
country is naturally fertile and productive,
and with capital and skill combined with
industry, much money could be made from
the soil. In many respects they would have
advantage over the north. Grasses and
grains ol all kind grow well. Hay pays
better than corn or cotton. Very few cat
tie are raised The implements of sRrcul-
ture are very rude and imperfect BY the
last census the average production aud av-
erage prosperity OF agriculture in Vermont
vastly exceeds that OF the most prosperous
Of these Southern states. Everything is
sacrificed to cotton. and cotton does not pay.
Vermont beats these states three to one
on every point Of farming.
Mr. Colbon was followed by Mr. g. G.
Pringle Of the board, upon the subject Of
"Grasses." Mr. Priugle begun by saying
that grass is king, that it will save the
South and is tho basis of the prosperity anl
the hope for improvement Of Vermont In
English agriculture there are 200 varieties
of grass grown, not in one place, but in mix
lures adapted to different soils aud localities
He spoke Of the loss we experienced in con
iuing ourselves to so few kinds, and then
went on to call attention to the various ma.
tive grasses Of Vermont He excluded
from consideration the cloyers aud sedges
though usually cOnfounded with grasses by
iai mers The sedges are Of poor quality
possessing no sugar or juice, and conse
quently little nutriment, either green or Al
hay.
Mr. PriDgle's lecture was botanical il
character, giving detailed descriptions Of al
| the different forms Of our native grasses, 81
that they can be recognized. In order to b,
of use these descriptions should be publishe,
in full with pictures. No abstract would b,
possible Mr. Pringle urged the study o
botanS, and especially OF the grasses, upol
farmers aud farmers boys, as of importanO
in pecuniary sense. lie said the glory o
timothy was departing, and that we mus
seek for other sorts to replace it. lie spOk
highly of June grass, aud said he doubte,
il Vermont butter would have ever bee
heard from were il not for the abundanc
of this grass on our hills. Yet even this
disappearing as the soil becomes exhausted
Rsd,op is good thing to SOW on lo'
ground. Orchard grass is valuable. Man
suppose it is the same as coDeh or witch
grass. But it is entirely distinct. Fow
meadow is very little known, also, yet mos
valuable Our lands are decreasing in fer
,ility, aud with this -dsORsass the natura
growth Of grass declines, and it become
necessary to cultivate it and SOW new kind
Every resource must be drawn upon to kee
up aud improve our grass crop, if We desir
to avoid serious depreciation Of the pro
ductiye power ofour farms. To do this "
must study the habits Of the vast number c
grasses and their adaptation to pastures Q
to hay, The most hopeful chance is to e1
Il AZ. A