Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1876-01-07
Meeting of the State Board of Agriculture,
Manufactures and Mining.
AZ Hinesburg, wednesday and Thursday,
December 22 and -, 1878.

The meeting was called to order by Hon
A. L. Smith, a member OF the board.
DR. j. f. Miles was elected to preside over
the meeting, and N. L. Partch, ESQ, and II.
A. Post were elected as wee presidents.
c. G. Pringle, Esq, read his paper upon
the potato Disease"
After Mr. Pringlo had read his paper,
Prof Seely asked Mr. Priugle if the dry rot
was the same as the disease described.
Mr. Pringle said he had no doubt il was
the same, and gave his reasons. The spores
described in the paper may exist in the dry
stalks in the potatoes in the bin 10 a semi.
dormant state, and it was liable to break out
at any time that season or the weather was
favorable for the same.
Mr. Ferrin asked if it was liable to prey
upon other plants.
Mr. Prugle thought it might on the toma-
to. Botanists thought for long time that
this fungus did prey or live upon other
plants in different form, but it had been
found upon close investigation that they
were very different. Wild potatoes brought
from South America were not subject to
rot, but they were very poor in quality.
As seeds planted from these we're cultivated,
and the capacity for large yield enhanced
and the quality improved, tho liability to
rot was increased, and it was his opinion
that no potato could be produced good
enough to be worthy Of cultivation without
it was subject to disease.
Mr. Ferrin thought perhaps the cultivated
varieties produced larger, thicker leaves,
that made better home for the fungi to
propagate.
Mr. Pringle said that in the case of ami.
mails, we may keep them so high as to cause
steriity; so in the case Of vegetables. By
high cultivation and improvement we cause
them to become sterile, so far as seeds are
concerned, which will account for the absence
of seed balls upon the improved varieties.
As for remedies he thought there were many
precautions he would recommend that would
help preserve or prevent this disease from
doing so much damage, such as selection Of
soils, early digging, perhaps sprinklng Of
sulphur or other powders upon the leaves,
but there. was no remedy yet discovered that
could be relied upon that could be pro6tably
or universally used, but he hoped much from
practical investigation that there might be
one discovered soon. Mr. Pringle here, by
request, gave the history of the discovery
and approach of the potato bug or Colorado
beetle.
Mr. Ferrin stated that a relative Of his
had advised him that in a small way hens
would destroy them.
Mr. Marsh saw them in different parts Of
the West, last fall, in many gardens, but the
fowls failed TO keep them killed. Although
al the leaves were eaten off the stalks, the
potatoes were of good quality, but small
Meeting adjourned until evening.
Wednesday Erening,
Meeting called to order by the president.
Rev l. b Hibbard of Charlotte, read a pa
per upon " The Bright side of Farm Life. :"
The speaker gave as one Of the FIRST reR-
sODs why young men did not like to stay on
the farm laziness, the second and last
was in his opinion laziness. Every
profession was full to overhowing yet young
men were crowding into them, young men
following feminine enploymeuts because they
were lazy. Providence has always a bright
side for everything, and certainly be has
made no exception in the farmers life.
The fiSst bright aspect he would mention
was, the independence of the farmers life.
He can 90 and come when he plsases, and
no man shall say him nay. The second
bright aspect is its healthfuuess no employ
ment or profession, but will give a much
larger percentage of youthful breakdOwus,
His food is fresher and purer Hc escapes
those terrible adulterations practiced upon
so much Of the food Of the present day,
The air he breathes is purer air, aud the
contact with pure earth was heal:hlul
Animals ate earth to make them healthy
Another bright aspect was its leisure which
gave opportunity for mental culture. Itl
seasons Of rest were needed to repair the
wear and waste of mind and body, therefore
the winter should be employed by the farmer
in repairing the great waste Of power, tC
mind and body that takes place during th,
busy season, and this leisure should be en-
joyed, instead Of looking for some other hard
working job of the farm. Another bright
side is its opportunities for advancement
aud the broad field it furnishes for expert
ment. This opportunity for testing theories
by practical trial is not equalled in any 9th,
or calling. Que beauty of all these expert
ments is, they can be tried without absolute
loss. Another bright side was, it was an