The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1876-01-18
BOARD OF AGRICULTURE.


The Vermont board of agriculture, man
ufactures and mining began two days
session at the room of the Brandon farm
ers and mechanics club on Monday after
noon. The members of the board present
were Prof Henry NJ. Seely of Middlebury,
secretary, Hon. G. Horace Hubbard of
Springfield, G. G. Pringle of Charlotte,
John II. Mead of West Rutland. Albert
Chapman, esq.,, of Mddlebury, is the off
cal reporter OF the board. We were pleased
to see among the audience,ta large number
of Brandon farmers, and many from Hub
bardton, Pittsford, Leicester, Whiting,
Salisbury Goshen, Sudbury and other
towns.
The commodious and cosy rooms Of the
farmers and mechanics club, were filled at
an early hour, and became decidedly too
small before the close Of the afternoon, as
the audience constantly increased, show
ing that the substantial farmers of Bran
don appreciate the mission of the board of
agriculture among them and are on the
alert to receive the benefits to flow from
its teachings. This is undoubtedly due to
the influence of the local club, which has
done a good work in the community, for
it is well known that the Brandon farmers
and mechanics club, has in the fourteen
years of its existence, proved one, If not
the most vigorous agricultural institutions
in Vermont, and no local club has a longer
or better history in our state and If we
mistake not 1t is the oldest agricultural club
in New England. Much of it's success is
due to the energy and public spirit of its
officers who have bees selected from
among its foremost citizens and leading
farmers.
was called to order by Prof. II. NJ. Seely,
secretary of the board, who remarked that
it was not often the good fortune of the
hoard as they have in Brandon, to meet with
live farmers club, which are and have been
doing good work. The board proposed
that the ofiicers Of the Brandon farmers
and mechanics club should take the meet
ing into their charge and act as its officers,
whereupon Hon. n. r. Sprague, jr., pres
ident of the farmers and mechanics club,
took the chair and introduced E. II. Girls
void to make an address of welcome.
MR.. GRIswoLD's ADDRESS.
Gentlemen Of tie Vermont board Of Az
ricult,tre 1t Is with pleasure on behalf OF
the citizens Of Brandon and the Brandon
farmers and mechanics club, that | welcome
you to our town and its hosptal,ies. Our
abOrs are similar IN design and purpose.
and il is htting that our meeting should
be Joint one. While your labors are more
| diffusive and occupies larger field, ours
| II IN harmony in a more limited field. The
| Vermont state board of agriculture has
proved itself of value to our common
wealth and is something more than orna-
mental as some have been disposed TO
| believe and i, dVnS q good --.e-s hora
that none hut feelings of harmony and
pleasure may mark the proceedings of this
meeting, extended remarks are unnecces-
sary on this occasion. Allow me again to
welcome you ia behalf of our citizens and
the club to Brandon.
Col. II. II. Merritt Of Brandon, was Their
introduced and proceeded TO read paper
on "manures and their application"
In commencing Col Merritt said there
was nothing more sacred than truth. We
should make sacrifice TO truth. Error
is curse wherever spoken. Wehug errol
to our bOsoms because We are taught it. A
'wise man should always be glad to eX
change an error for truth. Science il
abroad and her lamp makes light of TIT
dark night We are no longer content t
crawl along at a snail like pace. 1t is vail
for the cynic to sneer or the skeptic L
deny it. New England falls behind in he
material industries only in the preci0u
metals The farmer of Vermont are indie
pendent and pursue their vocationlwth sue
cess. He gains competence, some an abun
dance of wealth The various mode
of cultivation Of the soil hav
attracted more attention OF late
Our farmers too often follow the fathers
footsteps without thought or reflection
Too few consult the nature of the soil an
its adaptation for crops. They neglect th
selection of choice seeds or breeds of an
mails. The great lack is the feeble tillin
of too much land. The Vermont farIne
has every means for improvement of hi
mind be can read books, the newspaper
| TAX POLITICS., anu, III llo own cotiiiiaeiOi
become a profound statesman.
a Manures may be either mechanical {
chemical in their application and effect
An active absorbant Of moisture produce
( heat and yigor which is mechanical. TT
chemical effects are too well known
need description. The farmer should fir
know how to cultivate with the best result
He should ascertain the best fetilizer thu
e can be applied with the least exhaustion {
: the land. Plants need constant food al
must have two distinct kinds Of food-o
ganic food from the air and inorganic foo
i from the soil. There are three kinds
>. manure, mineral, vegetable and animal.
c their application the husbandman should
guided by the effect on the crop and u
> effect it may have upon the future crop
Thirty years ago an effort was made to ]
n store the worn out lands of Delaware
o means of Peruvian Guano, but the resul
Il we're far from what was expected. Hi
b the manure produced on the farm be-
\. used different results would have been 8
e complshed The argument of Col. No
If ritt was decidedly favoring the domes
o ferulsers of the farm yard.
The paper was a practical one from
practical man, and aroused much inter-
on the part OF tne audience.
DISCUSSION.
Prof. Seely regarded the paper as
& foundation for valuable discussion. I
experience of the farmers with the &
about Brandon would be profitable.
re asked Col Merritt on what fertilizer I
section depend upon mostly for the liz
'r soil.
"a Col. IL. II. Merritt, in reply, said
w main dependence was upon the barn-ya
All superficial fertilizers acted, in his lu
lis ment, only as slimulants, but that OF
BARNARD becomes permanent and is
the While gradually feeding the soil,
the result was that clover stood thick alb
90, where not spear of grass had grown
N'' fore.
ac- Ii. A. sumner of Brandon, agreed "
ro Col. Merritt, regarding domestic manu-
hut thouoht tho n ind of eoil .hpul1 be In