Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1876-10-06
Meeting Of the State Board of Agricul-
ture and FAIR at Grand Isle.

The State Board of Agriculture held
meeting at Grand Isle on Thursday aud
Friday, September 2l and %, at the invita-
ton of the local agricultural society, which
held an exhibition at the same time.
The drive from Milton is a delightful one.
Crossing the causeway, or bridge as it is
called, constructed of stones piled up in
crude ridge with driveway graveled on the
top, from the main land something over
mile in length, with that now unusual thing
in Vermont, toll gate, at the end, we made
our first entrance into Grand Isle County
upon the Island land town. Of South Hero
The soil OF South Hero and Grand Isle, ap-
pears to be of an alluvial character, under
laid by clay, and is evidently fertile and
easily cultivated far exceling the average
Vermont farms in these respects. The eli
mate is tempered by the waters of Champlain,
aud is more favorable to the cultivation Of
fruit than any other section of the state.
This industry engages the special attention
Of the people, and gives them more profta-
bic returns than any other product of the
SOIL The season has been one of extreme
drouth, more severe than any within the rec
objection Of the oldest inhabitant, mot even
shower for eight scorching weeks Yet
the specimens Of apples, pears, and grapes
on exhibition were exceedingly fine. The
stock of the islands has formerly been mainly
grade Merino sheep. But under the depress-
ing influence Of the low price of wool, the
farmers are turning their attention to dairy
ing, and much interest is apparent in the i'm
provement Of dairy COWS, and the acquis
ton Of the arts Of the skilled dairy man
Improvements in horses are also in ordsl
here, and the colts on exhibition showed tha
the farmers are breeding with care.
The roads are the most uniformly good o.
any it has been our fortune to travel in Yer
mont, though it became apparent before W
got away that high character aud menta
strength will not hold a wagon right side u
when the driver turns into the ditch at
} full trot with a tOp-heavy load of seven wei
fed men. As no injury attended the acciden
beyond a collapsed wheel, the loss of trai
! and prolongatiOn of the visit of the write
. another delightful day, with a charming sal
] on the lake, the upset was not regarded a
! ! altogether misfortune.
The scenery upon the island is beautifr
: beyond description, and the drives along tn
4 lake shore 10 Grand Isle were much NOR
charming than those on the ocean beaches.
d The board held two sessions on Thursda
and three on Friday, which were we'll a
tended and in the exercises Of which a
the members as well as the people of IL
. vicinity participated.
The exhibition of horses and cattle WI
!. very creditable when it is remembered tht
IS sheep husbandry has been the leading sto C
~ interest, aud that the meadows and pastur
have been scOrched brown in the drout
The animals were not labeled aud we
not learn the names of some OF the owner
G. Il. Robinson of South Hero showed
yearling colt weighing $50 lbs, which will eV
IDENTIFY make a large, powerful horse. J.
:, Osgood, one same age, $40 lbs, good one.
Reynolds had a mare and colt, good On'