Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1877-02-16

| secretary Chapman, and Isaac N. Watt
was elected chairman.
Prof. q. A. Bunker, principal of tht
Caledonia county Grammar school Of
Peacham, delivered the address of welcome
which was scholarly production and ex.
ceedingly well delivered. 1t was received
by hearty applause.
| GRAIN RAISING IN VERMONT.
The frs. paper was on "Grain raising in
Vermont must it be abandoned ?' by j.
Lawrence. of Passumpsic. Mr.. Lawrence
showed that there has been steady decline
in the amount of the grain products of our
State. lie related some of his experience
on boarding round" while teaching a dis
trict school, when he found "barrel -four
IN but single family in the whole district
In the discussion which followed, Mr.
Blake. of Hardwick, thought every farmer
should raise all the wheat he needed 70.
| homo consumption. He had never in his
| life bought but one barrel of flour because
| he needed it for bread. Mr.. Blake also
| raised grain to break and subdue the soil
| for other crops and to more readily receive
| the manure.
j. r. Kenerson, OF Peacham. believed the
manure should be applied directly to the
| g-ass,-grass is king.
Mr.. Mead. of West Rutland, thought the
best way was to pillow the ground, spread
on the top dressing, harrow and pulverize
well and stock down, without cropping.
with the grasses best adapted to their soil
and locality.
DIR. IL. A. Cutting next read paper on
the rainfall of Vermont. DR.. Cutting ex-
planned the cause of raintalls; the prognos-
tications Of the ''Signal Service Bureau
and why they are sometimes mistaken
most of our storms commence at the Cult
OF Mexico. trayerslng sometimes the whole
Of New England, but not unfrequently
spending themselves before reaching Yer
mont
EVENING SESSION.
The chairman introduced Prof. n. Cressey
of Amherst, Mass. who spoke on veteri-
nary matters. He dwelt largely upon
founder, exploding the popular belief in
"chest founder" There is no such thing
founder being in the foot of the horse
He also discussed the imaginary disease of
hOrn-ail in cattle, and other matters of
practical interest, and answered satisfacto-
rily numerous inquiries.
FRIDAY MORNING
Mr.. Henry Blake, of Hardwick, read a
raper Fifty years of farm life in Northern
NtIuOut anu IT'S ltSsOnS. MT. Dlhke con-
trasted forty and fifty years ago with the
present time. The first iron pillow was
made by Messrs. Fairbanks, of st. Johns
bury, in 1924. Many people then thought
whiskey at 20 cents per gallon cheaper than
bread Tor supporting themselves and their
families. He explained the process of
building fire in the old-iashioned fireplace.
OF cooking by Fireplace, the manufacture of
potash, ETC., etc.
l.. Il. Hibbard, of the Vermont Farmer,
followed with an address on Farming in
the future Some one had told him that
| be was to be the "iOol of the meeting ~
and he thought the board had made wise
| choice in selecting him. Last year they had
fool on the board and wore him all out.
This year they were obliged to call on him.
Mr.. Hibbard had given notice the day be-
fore that if plenty of the farmers would
subscribe for the Vermont Farmer he would
keep still. Apparently he did not get many
subscribers for he certainly talked the mos,
and said the least in given length of time
of any man present. Yet. as he said, among
his nonsense there was now and then a
grain of sense, lie said farm buildings
should be so arranged a. to receive the most
sunshine. Have the hring room of the
house the pledsanteSt room and the parlol
If you must have one he would place in ''the
northeast corner OF the wood she'd" He
believed in moral farming. lie had heard
that Mr.. Atkins of the Argus was going to
have him turned ont of the church but be
believed it was only because he (Atkins)
had been turned out and wanted company
Mr.. Hibbard liked Mr.. Murray. of Boston
because he exalts the moral side of the
horse.
MIR. G. S. Fassett, of Enosburgh, read a
very interesting paper, "The dairy and tht
dairy cow" This was the best thing o
the session. Mr.. F. said that the mosl
careful attention should be paid to the
breeding of stock, using only thoroughbred
males. The milk of cows should be set sep
arately and tested so the owner may be able
to know what cows pau. One man of hi.
acquaintance reduced MS dairy from 60 tC
s. cows in this way and made more and
better butter from the latter number. be-
sides greatly reducing the labor and expense
of feeding. Mr.. E. S. Wood, of Pomfret
has dairy OF Jerseys he formerly
made one hundred pounds of butter pei
COW. now he make three hundred, realizing
over 500 from each COW. This desirable
result he has brought about by carefully
selecting, careful testing and breeding. lie
also gave some figures showing actual trials
of Jersey heifers which made almost incred
IDLY large amounts of butter in a given
length of time. lie preferred Jerseys to any
other breed. Mr.. Fassett was question
ed by different gentlemen upon various
points relating to the dairy, and answered
intelligently to the extent OF his experience
In the afternoon Mr.. Albert Chapman
read paper on the Care of Dairy Stock. u
after which a discussion was held on rais-
ing roots. and the analysis of fertilizers.
Mr.. Foster stated that the Board and Secre
tarY should turn their attention to some
plan of having tho fertilizers for sale au-
alyzed. Mr.. Chapman stated that the an
alyses already made by the Secretary of the
Board had saved more to the farmers of the
State than the cost of the Board several
times over, the fertilizers steadily improy
ing since the first examination.
N. X. Abbott read a paper on "Our Dis
advantages" Mr.. Foster thought farmers
had more rights than they deserve; the mid
| dlemen had not been more dishonest than
| the farmers. lie said that with all their
| present disadvantages, iarmersScould not
and would not give up the advantages OF
culture. We are far too sharp and over
reaching.
Mr.. Brainerd, of Peacham, gave state,
ment of two cows that made $40 lbs OF
butter, besides what no used in his
family. Mr.. Miller gave an account of a
full blood Jersey cow that made 81 lbs. OF
butter i'll one week in the month of June,
and IL lbs. in the same time in the month
of September. Mr.. Blake also gave an ac-
count of cow owned by Amasa Scott that
made 450 lbs. from January, 1876, to Feb
ruary, 1877. Mr.. Greenbank, of Peacham,
sold . 400 lbs. from eight cows, besides
what he used in a family of five persons.
In tho evening Ora Paul. of Pomfret. ex-
planned the operations of some of the laws
passed at the last session of the Legislature.
The law to prevent cruelty to animals he
thought wise. The fish and game laws wero
not of much benefit He dwelt on the lack
OF energy displayed by farmers in the Leg
islature of the State, where they had
large majority over al lother callings, but
still allowed themselves to DO used by the
minority IN working against their own
interests. They are like clay in the bands
of the potter. At the last session there
were l3S farmers in that body, a majority
OF 10, while the next highest calling repre-
sented numbered only Is, and yet it was
only by hard fighting that he and a few
Others succeeded IN preventing the abOli-
ton of the Board Of Agriculture. They met
with the strongest opposition from farmers.
Farmers sons should also be thoroughly
educated in all matters pertaining to their
calling
Following this, j. H. Mead, os West
Rutland, read paper on "Sheep llus-
handry," after which +. Z Richardson, of
Waterford. read one on "The Importance
of Education on the Farm The latter
gentleman claimed that knowledge of
chemistry and botany was indispensable,
together with other branches of English
study. 1t was alsp of the most vital impOr
tance that the farmer should honor his
calling.
The potato bug question was discussed,
the general opinion being that with a lib
eral supply Of Paris green. little it any
trouble was to be feared
Alter singing llurrah for Old New
England" tho meeting adjourned, every
one feeling that they had been well paid Tor
the time spent. 4. W.
liz sat alone in her fathers parl0r,
waiting Tor the far ones appearance, the
other evening, when her little brother