The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1878-02-01
Agricultural Department.
CoHpucTFD ny Albert CuArMAN
Meeting of state Board of Agriculture
nj Albany.

Meeting of state Board of Agriculture
ut Albany.
A meeting OF the State Board of Ag-
riculture was held Mt Albany. last week
Tuesday and Wednesday. The meet
ing was called to order by Ora Paul, of
the Board. Judge Lyman Tenny, of
Albany, was chosen to preside during
the meeting, and III. W. Chafey elected
choir, Rev. Mr.. Morse offered prayer,
and the choir again furnished very
fine piece of music. DR.. Charles Rich
made the opening address of welcome
to the Board, thanking them for COM
ing TO Albany to hold meeting, and
teaching the farmers something of sci
entific agriculture, of which there Is
great need among the farmers of the
present day. Farmers everywhere
need TO understand their calling in all
its qualifications better. 1t Is hoped
that the farmers present will learn
during this meeting many things to
their advantage. Farmers need n more
special scientific education, much ofthc
education of the present day being OF
little worth to fit men and women men,
tally or physically to pursue any call.
ing, especially that of n farmer.
After music by the choir, A. Chap
man, of the Board, read paper upon
the EARN Profits" following which a
discussion arose about keeping ac-
counts with crops aud instances named
by Mr.. John Chamberlain, who advocat-
ed Keeping farm accounts and raising
crops, instead of buying it from the
West. lie believed we could not only
l.a,t
son. by request. explained the fertili-
zing element in the atmosphere, which
he did in very clear manner. Dr.
Rich also explained the same phenom.
ena. The leaves of plants throughiheir
pores breathe the same rs animals by
use of their lungs.
Mr.. II. W. Chafcy, of Albany, read
paper upon the advantages of Farm
ing as II calling" duly setting forth the
advantage Of that calling over others.
Mr.. Fassctt, of the Bonrd, in few
remarks expressed sentiments in ne
cord with those Of the writer. He
deprecated getting discouraged because
farming does not pay, but on the con-
trary we should retrcncb instead of fol-
lowing expensive fashions.
Mr.. Chamberlain, in few able
remarks, encouraged sticking to the
farms. He believed farming paid now
as well as ever. He believed we
should have more confidence in our
farms, and when one made dollar
should re-invest 1t in the farms, thus
making them more valuable and more
profitable.
MIR. Hawsc explained the way plants
derived their growth from the soil in a
very pleasing and facile manner, and
after song by the choir, the meeting
adjourned until evening.
Tuesday evening, the meeting was
called to order by ii. w. Chafey, and
after music by the band, Mr.. u. f.
Jameson, of Irasburgh made an address
upon educated Hands," lie said
skilled hands are necessary to deyelope
the highest intellectual aitainments in
a people or nation. When people
have become wealthy they are in per-
ilous condition, for then they are gem
orally liable TO allow their hands to be-
come less skilled. They then depend
upon the skilled hands of others, and if
they meet with the vicissitudcs of for
tune, their unskilled hands are useless
to earn living. There are certain in
alienable rights to which all children
are ,cntitlcd-litc, liberty, and the pur-
suit ofhappincss- and following close
upon these is the right to demand from
the state an education that shall fit him
10 become an intelligent, skilled citizen,
that shall fit him to become practically
skilled for productive labor and en-
ployment The school of to-day cdu-
Gates the head and the intellect, not the
hands. This failure to provide cduca-
ton for the hands is filling our land
with men who join together as did the
rioters last summer to destroy, instead
Of create and add to the comforts, the
necessities, the luxurics, and wealth of
the commonwealth. Do farmers pro-
perly educate the hands of their sons 10
follow their calings? The state
should provide for the proper cduca-
ton of the hands of its people to enable
them TO keep pace in skilled work with
other nations, or even to surpass them.
At last, after all of our strivings, the
old hands full of wisdom, the kind
hands full of good works, the strong
hands that win lifc's battles, and small
soft hands that pat our checks and
feebly cling to us, yet arouse our hearts
10 tenderest love-thcy all at last be-
come folded hands, their earthly skill
all past VIII they at last by inspira-
ton that is far above genius hold the
golden haips and wake sweet music be-
fore the throne of God!
After the address by Mr.. Jameson,
Mr.. j. II. Mead. of the Board, read a
paper upon "Grass" To increase the
grass crop we snouId save ana Increase
The supplies of fertilizers to top-dress
the grass lands. The average produc-
ton of all moving lands in the state is
less than ton per aero. We should so
improve our grass lands that they will
produce twice as much as this. Fall
seeding without grain is mnch better
than the common way of seeding with
grain. Grass should be cnt early for
hay, aud not cured too much. We
should be careful not To cut hay too