The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-02-09
MAINE BOARD OF AGRTCULTUKI
FIRST DAY.

FIRST DAY.
The annual meeting of the Maine Board OF
Agriculture opened in Lemont Hall yesterday
at 9.45 a. m. Nearly every member of the
board was present. The meeting was called to
order by s. L. Boardman of Augusta. President
G. f. Allen of the State College was nominated
temporary chairman and he opened the exer-
cises with prayer. Messrs. WATSON, Harris
and Hight were appointed committee on Gre.
dentiaIs and reported that there was quorum
present, and as there was one contested seat,
they could not report in full till later, and SO
the association proceeded to business.
President Allen announced that owing to the
absence of many of the students from College,
the exercise assigned to them would necessarily
have to be given up, and so the address of well
come on behalf of the Sagadahoc society was
postponed till afternoon TO take the place of
that exercise. The first thing on the pro.
gramme was paper by Mr.. Boardman, "The
Horse at Agricultural Exhibitions" Mr..
Boardman took the ground thai speed was
valuable quality in a horse and 1T was proper
to develop it, and there was no objection to tri-
ais of speed at fairs, provided they were con-
Quoted fairly and no gambling, ungentlemanly
language or conduct was allowed. But speed
is not the only quality. There are others which
are as important, and for many purposes more
so than this, and premiums should be so
ranged as to tend to encourage the cultivation
of all of them instead of any particular one.
At the close of the reading of Mr.. Board
mans paper, quite an animated discussion
sprung up, participated in by Messrs. Lee of
Foxcroft, Shaw of W. Hampden, Lucas of St.
Adams, Percival of Vassalboro, Gilbert of East
Turner, Harris of Portland, WATSON of East
Surry, and Tenney of Brunswick. Some were
in favor of banishing horse trotting altogether
at fairs. Some thought it was good thing pro-
vided that the pool selliug could be abolished,
while few favored pool selling. At the close
of the discussion the morning session adjourn
ed.
The afternoon session was called to order at
2 o'clock by President Allen. The committee
on credentials made partial report and pre-
sented the following list of new members: Ok
ford Co., Thos. Reynolds, Canton; Sagadahoc
Co., Isaac E. Mallett, Topsham; Somerset Co.,
George Flint, No. Anson; York Co., contested.
From State Pathological Society, James A.
Varney of No. Vassalboro AS the seat from
York county was contested, it was voted to
continue under the temporary organization I'M
til the committee should decide to whom the
seat belonged.
Hon. G. j. Gilman of Brunswick then deliv-
cred brief address of welcome in behalf of the
Sagadahoc Society, to which President Allen
responded in fitting manner in behalf of the
Maine Board of Agriculture, thanking the Sag
adahoc Society for their hospitality. He called
upon Mr.. q. A. Gilbert of East Turner, who
also presented the thanks Of the board COR hos.
FATALITIES.
At the conclusion of MIR Gilberts remarks,
Mr.. Durham of Bangor read paper for Mr..
B. M. Hight, he being unwell, on "The Impor-
tance of Veterinary Science aud its Relations
to Agriculture"
After the reading of Mr.. lights paper Prof.
Levi Stockbridge, of the Massachusetts, State
Agricultural College, addressed the board and
said that he thought it would be profitable for
the state to establish professorship of veter-
mary surgery at Orono. Hon. G. J. Gilman
then made few practical remarks on the du-
ties of blacksmiths and said that blacksmiths
should know the anatomy of the horses foot or
hoof completely. Mr.. Hight then made few
remarks and criticized the "horse Doctors Sc
verely.
Mr.. Lawrence of Boston gave some very in
teresting points ia veterinary surgery, which
were listened to with marked attention.
The afternoon session was enlivened by the
presence of some ladies' and the students from
the State College arrived on the afternoon
train and will probably remain through the ses-
sion, although they take no part.
Prof. Levi Stockbridge, of the Mass. State
Agricultural College, delivered a very interest.
ing, valuable and instructive lecture in the eve.
ming, on Experiments In Feeding Plants''