The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1877-03-03

follows 1t. System must DC q TACT, that
every farmer would do well to recog-
nize and adopt. The want of system
often decides the question whether
farming pays or not. Debt is the great
curse of disaster to farms. Farmers
have actually paid the value of their
farms twice over in interest and then
lost their farms.
Friday afternoon, the first paper was
by Mr.. +. Tarbell of Swanton, upon
observations on Farming and Western
Competition" read by Mr.. I. A.. Fitch of
Highgatc.
After this paper which was an able
consideration ofthe subject, Hon. +. ID.
Mason of Richmond, was introduced
and made q few excellent remarks. He
thought it a great mistake that farmers
did not accustom themselves to consider
and talk about these subjects in public.
| He did not know but the best way he
| could express it was to say they did not
know how to think aloud when on their
feet.
Another thing that was wanted was
more system and q better appreciation
| of the value of knowing about Il bust
ness, by keeping al accurate journal, so
we may know what pays and what does
not.
We should attend to our business bet
ter My friend Skeels and like it bet
ter down at the village than at home on
our farms, but most farmers will do
much better not 10 spend too much
time at the hotel and store.
Farmers should be more willing to
! help ut these meetings of the Board.
He has fed q good deal of meal that
he always raises himself. He would
| advise farmers to raise their WI grain
so far as possible, and feed it out on
their own farms, and make those pro-
ducts we do sell more in quantity and
better in quality.
After the remarks of Mr.. Mason, Dr..
F. B. Hathaway, of Milton read a paper
upon Corn as a Forage Crop" After
the paper by DR.. Hathaway, Mr.. T.. r.
Towle, of West Berkshire, was intro
duced and read paper upon 'Is Selling
Profitable to the Average Vermont
Farmer" We hope to publish this pa
per in full at an carly day. An abstract
would not do ii Justice. After the pa
per Mr.. Towle, in answer to a question
said, where good pasture could be pur-
chased at n cost of ten to twenty dollars
per, acre, it would be best to pasture
instead of practicing soiling. Nearness
to pastures must be a very important
consideration when determining the
important question of profit in soiling.
After this, Mr.. G. S. Fassett. of the
Board, read a paper upon "Niilk Setting
and Butter Making"
The first paper Friday evening was
read by Prof. w. N. Phelps of Swanton
upon "Pruning."
This was a very ingenious argument
against pruning, as contrary to nature
and good reasoning. The speaker held
that much of the decay of the orchards
about the county was in consequence of
too much pruning. Mr.. Chapman took
an opposite view from Mr.. Phelps.
The orchard about the country were
nor of them suffering from want of
pruning than from too much of it. He
would not advocate excessive, iniudi-
cious pruning, but proper amount was
as essential to the successful growth,
life and usefulness of the tree rs any
other part of its culture.
President Hubert Of Middlebnry
College was introduced, and gave an
able address upon Education of YER
mont Boys" which was received with
great favor by the large audience pres
ont.
DR.. Henry Baxter of IIighgate offer
ed a resolution of thanks to the Board
of Agriculture for holding this meeting,
and for the valuable instruction they
have given to the other gentlemen who
had given such valuable assistance in
papers and addresses, and to the choir
for the music they had furnished. This
resolution was adopted by rising vote.
Mr.. Chapman, in behalf of the Board,
returned thanks to the chairman, MI.
Skeels, for the successful II he
had conducted the meeting to the choir
for their refined and melodious music d;
to the citizens of Highgate for their
bounteous hospitality, and more than
all for the encouragement given the
Board in their work by the large attend
,ance and great interest In this meeting.