The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1877-03-03
Meeting of the Vermont. State Board of
Agriculture at East Calais, Tuesday
Wednesday, Feb. 90 and 81, 1877.

The meeting was called to order by
MIR. Fassctt, of the Board. Albert Dwf.
nell of Calais was chosen to preside,
who, before taking the chair. made the
opening address.
This is an age of progress and i'm
provemcnt. Science is making great
strides. Agriculture, by using the aid
of science, is making great progress.
The farmer, by the many aids to enlioht-
en- his mind, is becoming a man, strong
in mind and stture. As an instrument
to assist the farmers of this section to
gain more information, to better apply
themselves to their business, and enable
them to reap a greater pecuniary bene-
fit, weloomc you, gentlemen of the
Board of Agriculture, to East Calais.
AT the conclusion of this address, Mr..
Ora Paul of the Board read a paper up-
on "Home Production"
MIR. HOLSTER of North Montpelier,
asked the value of roots as compared
with grain or hay.
Hon. E. ID. Mason Of Richmond, said
he had raised roots for nearly twenty
years, mostly mangolds and beets; had
raised forty-five tons per acre; he con-
siders them very valuable for cattle.
Mr.. Pitkin, of Marshfeld, gave an ex-
PLANTATION of the amount Of nutritive
constituents in turnips, beets, clover,
hay and grain.
Mr.. Tinkham thought the greatest
benefit from roots was from their health
giving qualities in connection with other
feed.
Mr.. Fassett took the same view: their
greatest value was in connection with
other feed.
Mr.. A. NJ. Foster, of Cabot: read a pa
per upon 'Does 1t pay to raise Corn in
Vermont?
Maize is one of the most important
crops. The amount raised annually in
the United States was more than double
that of wheat. The former cultivation
o. corn was very thorough, but now the
cultivation is anything but thorough.
Will it pay to raise corn in Vermont?
viii it not pay better to raise some 9TH
er crop with which to buy our corr of
feed?
MIR. HOLSTER gave an account of the
cost OF raising q crop of corn and the
value of the crop, as follows: | 1-2 acre
ground, old grass; / days work plow-
ing, 50; narrowing, 80; 500 pounds of
phosphate, ST.; seed corn, so cents;
planting, 4 hands, 2-3 day, 81; same
hands, 2-3 day, 81; horse cultivator, so
cents; interest on land, 50; cutting corn
and stocking $3.50; hauling corn, IS;
husking and cribbing, Sc. Credit side !:
$50 bushels ears of corn, s55.25; stalks,
$50.
Mr.. Bisbee, OF Moretown, would say
he preferred raising his own corn; he
thought those farmers that bought their
grain did not take into account the labor
of hauling the grain; he thought those
that bought their grain were not the
best farmers.
Mr.. Spaulding, of Taftsville, gave an
account of corr crop he raised on O
piece of poor land, by using superphos-
phate. BY using aportion ofthe amount
of money in q good superphosphate we
could raise the grain and have the land
In much better condition for crops after.
Using superphosphate ON poor grass
land had paid well with him, and he
thought 1t a very profitable fertilizer.
He had tried bran, but found 1t did not
pay.
Mr.. Mason thought II best not 10 raise
To- much grain, but to raise what we
feed. Grass cut twice q year was n bet
ter feed for stock than grain. Our past
nres are generally neglected; he took
better care of his than of his meadows.
Every spring he hoed ont all the drop
pings, and then by brush inserted in q