Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1878-01-18
Vermont Dalrymen's Association.

MORNING., JAN VA
Vermont Dalrymen's Association.
TIE MILTON MEETING.
The meeting of the DairyTen's Assocla
ton opened at Milton, on Wednesday,
January 10th. at 1890 q. Ill. There was
an excellent attendance, which in tho after
noon increased to between 200 and 300
dairy men and dairy women, including gentle
men from all the towns in this county, and
from franklin. Grand Isle, Lamoille, Wind
scr and other counties.
The meeting was called to order by Hen.
E. D. Mason, president of the Association,
and opened with prayer by Rev. j. ii.
| Woodward.
G. W. Writers, Esq. of Milton, then
welcomed the Association, in a very hand
some manner.
Mr.. wITTEEs's ADDRESS.
| lie said that the efforts made by the
| farmers of Milton, to secure this meeting OF
| the Association were q more substantial
| welcome than one of words. They are not OF
| the class who call you and the scientific
| gentlemen you bring here, Missionaries but
they are men who have learned in the
nine years past - profit by the instrue-
| tons you have given them IN your meet
Ings and publications. In these times
when every dollar made or lost tells senslbly
on the farmers balance Sheet it is especially
| desirable that every dairyman should know
his trade. Mr.. Writer'S alluded to the I'M
| pOrtance OF judlcious selection OF dairy
stock, adapted to the farm on which they
were placed. He pictured the folly OF the
man who puts the large noble looking Dur
hams on IA hillside farm. full of rocks and
lodges. He calculated the increase of
profits of the man who succeeds in increas-
ing the yield of butter from his 25 cows,
from l40 lbs to 100 lbs per cow, in the year.
and who secures three cents pound better
price, by improving the quality. The $40
thus added to his income year, would, 1t
invested at at 6 per cent. amount TO So ,557
in ten years, and in thirty years to $50 900
Many man wonders why his butter does
not bring as good price as that OF his
neigahor, who could learn why, if he at
tended your meetings. This is not theOreti-
cal but practical farming. and as practical
benefactors OF this great interest. we gladly
welcome you.
Mr. Witters's address was received with
every marx of qualification and approval.
President Mason then addressed the
Association as follows:
PRESIDENT MASON ADDRESS.
Ladies and Gentlemen Of the Dairymen's
Association
Allow me to congratulate you on the
bountiful production OF the farm and
dairy.
Whence comes this tide Of gold now
sitting towards US from the old World ?
Whence comes this morning light this
faint, glimmering sign of daybreak to our
business prosperity? The answer is writ
ten on every railroad train, on every eleya-
tor and st)rehouse of trade, on every Gus
tom-ho use. on every ship and steamer load
ing at tho dock The fdrDer, and ddirymen
Of America hare produced surplus which
the world wants in exchange for gold 1t
We would keep up this flow of gold to our
shores. We must make such goods as our
neighbors want AMI are willing to pay
for. And let US all strive at these meet
ings, to so teach that We may reap q rich
reward not only financially but morally
and intellectually.
While | may not have contributed any
appreoiable amount of personal service in
the great work this Association has been
L
progress our dsirying has been achieving
through your exertions and Investigations
with an increasing interest and have
never failed to honor and support. the
worthy men who have devoted 50 much
time and talent to SO glorious work.
How much OF pure, unmixed satisfaction
have lost by not taking part in your
dlscuSsIuns no man In all your number
knows better than do.
The moral influence of these conventions
is unimpeachabe. By no possibility can
your discussions result in anything in de-
rogatiOn OF the truthfulness, the material
interests, or the kindly relations of men.
Your every purpose is upright, aud has in
it the true essence Of human charity. You
intend to bring forth by your labors what
was not here before No indrectOn, no
circumventng lodges, no reaping where
you have not sJwn, no prOsperlng at the
sacrifice or over the downfall of others, can
ever mark the history OF these meetings.
For nine years have from this seat been
an instructed and interested observer of your
deliberations, and taxing my memory | am
unable to recall one word, one act, one sug
gestion, approved BY your body, which |
meant i'll to any interest or any man.
How much of sterling good do | see that |
in this time you have accomplished Be- |
ginning In circumscribed sphere, with re-
stricted notions of what the dairymen and |
farmers OF Vermont really needed. and fee
bic conceptions OF the possibilities of the |
agencies you were in the future destined to
evoke. We see to-day, in the Vermont Dairy
mems Association, a power and influence
that are felt Throughout every neighborhood
in the State.
The best professional talent and the most
weighty political influence had utterly fail
ed in impressing upon the public mind the
Importance OF certain needed reforms. In
the agricultural and dairying States these
reforms were at last to be lett to and sus-
tanned By the dairymen and tilers of the
soil.
Until this Association had mustered its
and generated certain forces which
it seemed no other power could. all plans for
any broad and sympathetic communication
between the Intelligent reformer and the
masses, in great measure failed. But how
Is 1t now Go back in your memories TWEEN
ty years and see how far behind US we have
lett old and hurtful notions. With what
wonder do you now look upon the farmer or
dairyman who still keeps on trying to dem
onstrate the fact that something may be
made from nothing, and that his lands may
be made to feed him without his reciprocal
ly feeding his lands | might enumerate
in detail very many results We have accom-
plshed, all tending directly to Il glorious
future for Vermont dairy husbandrY. We
have still much to accomplish. And we
must have the means of more extensive COM
with the public through larger
in this association. The peO-
pie who cannot come to your meetings must
have the benefit Of what is done and taught
in these sessions, and at their homes reduce
to practical effect what the leading spirits
Of your body have practiced and enjoyed.
Your plan of formal lectures on allotted sub.
jects meets my entire approval, and be
speak Tor the system increased support and
a wider range of effort.
When these outgivings from the best
thought and most carefully garnered expe-
rieIce OF the leading intellects of this body
shall BIO the common property of our dairy
men, We shall STE results of culture of all
sorts that will cheer and gladden. the hearts {
Of many who have labored in great detection
heretofore.
Ladies and Gentlemen OF the Association,
Tast as the material interests are OF which
you. more than any other class, are made
he conservators. they do not equal the
moral and social interests which you are
,alled en- to uphold.
The erection of the home and the life /
ob& CaIe VI It's pest lntere-lS Is inc BEST {
raining for the patriot And We who know c
Ill about the labor and pains-taking OF
home in the country must be I
Illowed to be the best judges of the delights !
md value OF such resting place. n
The farmer, have always though should
- the best Ui q man and citizen. His deal
ngs are with nature. that nursing mother
# US all. His ministering angels are the \
blessed dews and showers and sunshine. The !
rec, under whose majestic form no grows ,,
Up from the earliest childhood; the bounti-
III soil he has subdued; the scenes and
of his neighborhoOd, should fix L
lin to the spot and make him willing and Q
eady to defend home and its blessings to +
no last. These benign influences should c
lso teach him that unless they are sus- /
aimed by moral and socs! virtues. it is in
ain that the wilderness " blossoms as the @
osa." o