Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-01-24
Third Report Of the Board.

The third biennial report Of our State
Board of Agriculture has appeared, and pre-
sents respectable appearance. Each of the
three reports have issued from different
printing office; but there has been an at
tempt at uniformity and the binding of
that portion of the first two reports which
was put up in cloth was alike. In this
third one, a new style is adopted which
destroys the regularity of the set upon the
library shelf. Including the State Geolo-
gist's report, this volume counts seven hun
bred pages, but the matter might easily have
been printed with no sacrifice of legibility
on two-thirds as many. We cannot see the
propriety of this double leading and big
type in book issued by state authority
when private publisher would print it in
neat and compact manner, at a much less
cost for paper and binding.
As for the substance of the report, it is
quite equal to that of preceding volumes.
We perceive that the notices of the agricul-
tural press are all highly complimentary.
The Scientific Farmer specifies as a conspic-
uous merit the abundance of the practical
and lack of the sentimental in its pages (;
but that is characteristic of our people,
and can hardly be regarded as conscious
or intentional improvement upon the work
of similar boards in other states.
The changes made in the constitution of
the Board by the act of the last legislature
are mostly Improvements, and the effect of
cutting down the per diem of the members
from three dollars to one dollar and fifty
cents will be good at least in this, that it
will prevent many meetings in the large
villages, where hotel charges alone exceed
that sum, and very little private hospitality
is ever extended to the Board or its invited
guests and speakers. 1t is not to be pre-
sumed that gentlemen accept positions on
this Board from any other motive than pub.
lie spirit and desire to promote the sub
stantial interests of the state. The legisla
ture understands this, and gives all the pay.
ing offices to the politicians
The intrigues to change the personnel Of
VIC boih tNtil WV Ncuio idNt a tthuthS
to impair its efficiency in some degree, yet
have so far failed entirely of the result aimed
at. This can only be attained by its entire
destruction, or the turning of it over bodily
to its enemies, as was indeed attempted
both this time and two years ago. But there
were shrewd farmers enough in both legis
latures to scent the game and put quietu'
on it in time, and we trust such will Away,
be the case.
We greatly regret that Professor Collier
has felt constrained to decline the appoint
ment as a member of the new board. He il
most efficient worker and his deep and un
selfish interest in the work was fully demon
strated by his three years arduous and poorly
paid services as secretary. Yet knowing a!
we do the circumstances of his resignation
of the secretaryship, of his re-appointmen
as member, and his decination thereof, We
cannot see how with sef-respect, he couc
act differently.
Professor Seelye has done his work wei
in the report, and in the performance o
every duty of his Office since he was chosel
secretary. We are glad of his reelection
and that his salary is put by the new act
under the control of the board which vii
now, no doubt see that it shall no longer oc
cur that the more work he does the less
shall be his pay. That this fact has pre-
vented neither secretary from doing all il
his power to promote the efficiency of tn
board, is only one more proof that "poli
tics " has had no part in this branch of tn
state administration.