Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1877-01-12
Maine Agricultural Report.
BY T. II. HosKINs, NJ. D.

third Of the present secretary, the previous
seventeen having been issued by Mr.. Board
mans predecessor Hon. S. L. Goodale. This
set Of reports we regard as among the best
treasures of our library.
The present report isouo Of great interest
its principal contents are, first, special re.
port by the secretary on the great menhaden
fishery Of the Maine coast, which furnishes
such an abundant source Of fertility to the
farms of New England in its refuse, left at-
ter the extraction of the oil. This refuse,
called fish guano, or "chum," amounts an.
nually in quantity to something like 10000
Tons, worth by analysis from s25 TO s35 a
ton, but selling from the oil factories at $40
to sl5.
Succeeding this is the report Of meetings
and discussions with the addresses and es.
says made aud read The topics were,
"Planting an Orchard" Associated Dairy.
ing IN Maine" The Dairy Cow" ,""Needs Of
the Dairy" etc., illustrating the rapid
growth Of the dairy interest in a state here.
tofore backward 10 that branch Of husbandry,
but now promising soon to become rival oil
Vermont and New York therein. Names de-
votion to numbering and navigation, and its
accessibility to the great sea.board markets
has heretofore led to the shipping of its agri-
cultural products in the cruder forms of hay,
potatoes, ETC.; but the injury resulting to
the land thereby, has led to a change, and
now it will not be long before the growth of
crops to be consumed on the farm, with re-
suits in the form OF butter, cheese, wool and
fue meats, will have the effect to raise the
profits of farming aud restore the farms to
something like their original fertility. Other
topics, such as "Sheep Husbandry," "Mut-
ton rather than Wool, ""Raising Neat Stock, "
management Of Grass Land and Pastures"
etc., ETC., point in a similar direction.
But the most interesting of all the con-
tents Of this report, and the most hopeful to
the state, are the addresses Of President AL.
len and Professor Fernad of the state agri.
cultural college, and the evidences Of hearty
cooperation aud good feeling existing be-
tween the board aud the college. The fact
and the reason of it arc exhibited together
The Maine agricultural college-though re-
ceiviug but four thousand dollars from the
national endowment-is living and lively
reality. Says the secretary:
"The state college Of agriculture and the
mechanic arts has graduated its
fourth class, numbering 49, and has had
year of marked prosperity. The freshman
class of 1875 was the largest ever admitted
into the institution. With an efficient fac
ulty and the liberal aid of the state it will
90 on in course of sure prosperity giving to
our young men who desire it, at a moderate
cost, the advantage of thorough, liberal
scientific and practical education. This il
does by means Of the most approved modes
of instruction, by giving to every young mar
who pursues the course of study an oppor'
tunHy practically to apply The lesson he
learns IN the class room, and by furnishing
him facilities for repayinq part Of his ec.
peRSeS By his Oion labor"
The address of President Allen shows hin
apparently the right man in the right place
as witness the following SQUAD talk;
I'VE do not send the young theologian t
a military academy, nor our soldiers to b
trained for generals to divinity school, No
: need We expect that the wants Of superio
agricultural education will be supplied in
! classical college. What WI
insist upon is that he who has thoroughly
prepared his mind best to enter upon some
useful employment, disciplined by severe
study, ready for action bY toeH directed er
. ercise, stand the peer of the proudest schola
in the land that the study Of science cal
discipline the mind, enlarge the understand
, ing, arouse the Imagination, elevate the tast
and refine the manners as effectively as tn
. study of literature; that applying science t,
practical ends does not degrade learain2
Int enaOJLes il. The true glory of educa
ton is its abundant fruit. They who forr
= the deep farmers of well cultivated inte
e ect are able to bring forth the greatest hal
l. vest of usefulness, who can SOW by all water,
I are best deserving the appellation Of liberal
$ IN educated"
g These them" continues the worthy hea
of true farmers colege,-"thesc then ar
$ the ends to be pursued in tho highest forl
-, Of agricultural education First-To rails
t up those who can successfully stand interpre
ers between pure science and useful la6o
) and apply recondite principles to the variou
: details Of practical life, SO as to secure abur
dant harvests without injury to the soil, Il
best products Of herds aud flocks with Il
least expenditure, competence Of world
goods and the Joy of intelligent success Sc,
ond-To elevate the farmers calling an
make it worthy the choice of our best your
We men. To withdraw the aspiring from Il
,e levered dreams Of speculation to the surer I
turns OF healthy, honest toll, from over-crow
ed professions to productive employment
TO from life of harrassing care to the cal
to content of honorable independence"
to Aud now let every farmer read this fro
en- the same noble address -
tn ain connection with this higher agrcu
rn tural education, better scientific and tee
:. nical education should be furnished in o
=, puJHc schools. H0'0 Title that is ROi0 tang
ho in those schools has any relation TO ia
a Rler'S life ! When intelligent, literally ed
Jet Gated agricuturists have place on the boa
bs of education, there 'oW be some change
no the course of study"
w Yea, verify, will thcrc, most worthy pre-
"a dent
ots From the address of Prof, Fernald, of
,se same college We must make few extrac
mr.. "When every man can feel that his o
~ interests are identified with those Of capt
"'' the autagonism that now palses the energ
c" of labor and cripples the enterprises OF ca
va tai can no longer be maintained. La
asst holds in its own hand the rod which II
mt break the shackles of its wrongs. No amo
of legislation can securely protect its Tigl