Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1876-02-04

MEETING OF THE STATE BOARD OF AG
RICULTURE.

RICULrURE.
The State Beard of Agriculture met at
Fayetteville, Feb. lst, and organized by
choosing I. X. Batcheder of Townshend,
President, and Col. a. b. Franklin of New
fame, Vice President. Tho first paper read
was on the merits OF Vermont, by NJ. 0.
Howe, of Fayetteville. 1t was very care
fully prepared and elaborate document,
drawn from long study and careful COM
parison of statistics as found by the census
returns since 1850 aud no abstract that 1
shall be able to make will do it justice.
The first subject in this paper WIS the i'm
migration from the State and its cause.
The point set down as lis principal cause is
the lack Of a correct knowledge aud n full
appreciation Of the real capacities OF our
soil by the people generally. In a word,
our people have not noted and considered
the truths that the census tables have set
before them, but have gone and LEFT their
goodly fields simply because their neigh
bors have; blindly believing that there is
something better in some far off land, when,
in fact, figures show Vermont to be one of
the wealthiest States in the Union per cap
iia. The census returns of 1870 show the
average wealth for every nhabitant of Yer
mont To be about S7I3, while Indiana, Mich
igan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Kan
sas range from 500 down TO $500, and yet
these States are in the very heart OF that
Western land Of milk and honey toward
which our young men set their faces. The
immigration from Vermont has been of
that Kind that saps the blood and very
heart pulse from a community. It's young
men, more than 10000 of them have leGt
her borders, and yet, Notwithstanding this
Immense drain upon her resources, she is
to-day able TO report greater average of
wealth for her agricultural population than
almost any other State in the Union. The
value of the farm products OF Vermont, by
the census OF 1870, was SlOi for each inhab-
liant, while that of the above named West
ern States ranged from S63 to S75. Our
State has not only been ahead as to the val
ne of hor products, but equally so as to the
average amount yielded per acre of cereals
and succulents. OF dairy produces she
makes more cheese than all New England.
and as much butler as Massachusetts.
Maine and New Hampshire combined. and
no State in the Union makes so much maple
sugar by 1000, 900 pounds. If such be her
powers under these adverse circumstances,
who shall dare predict what she might have
been had those young men and women
stayed within her bordersand devoled their
energies to improving her soil and build
ing up manufacturing interests at home
bellows Falls and White River might have
eNcelled any manufacturing towns in New
England. Many examples of the success
oil individual manufacturers and farmers
were noted, TO illustrate [ he fact that il is
not necessary TO leave Vermont to gain both
wealth aud honor, If you will but work
and earn them here. Ono cause poled for
the encouragement of TIE farmer of TODAY
~ LEO TACT that many expensive and luxu-
rious habits Of lifo are creeping upon him
and his family that no far m ought TO be ex-
pecled TO support; many which no legili-
mate business, honestly followed. will sun
port. Such oxcrescences must be lonned
OIL OF any man's business before he can
succeed. To be appreciated this whole ma.
per must be carefully read and its facts and
hsures thoroughly analysed, as there Is
much in It to call forth thought and many
points raised that should be well consider
ed and discussed. l have devoted Thus
much Of time and space to it because II |
deals with statistical facts and not with the.
ories. Amer it was read there was short
discussion upon several of its items he
tween Rev. Chas. Burnham, Prof seeley
and Mr.. Hubbard of Springfield, in which
many items Of interest and their own mar
sonal knowledge of the various suecessos
mat had aileRded farming, both in Vermont