Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1878-09-04
The National Agricultural Congress.

opening on Tuesday, tho 2Ith ult., at
1880 A. NJ The attendance was quite
small, many delegates not having yet ar
rived. We noticed Il good delegation from
Georgia, T. F. James, the president of the
congress, j. Il. G. Warner, j. 5. Lawton
and B. c. Yancey. l.. E. Barney, Dayton,
Ohio, Dr. j. T. Tchenor, Alabama, DIR.
f. l.. Sturtevant and John +. Moseley of
Massachusetts, Prof w. II. Brewer of
Yale College. T. S. Gold, secretary State
Board of Agriculture, Prof BIG. Norlhrob,
secretary State Board of Education, were
among the other prominent delegates
present. The congress was called to order
by the president, and in absence Of the
the secretary DIR. +. l.. Sturtevant was
appointed pro tcmp0re.
Prof. Brewer gave an address of well
come. While Connecticut was not noted
for the fertility of its soil, YET perhaps it
made up in its men for its lack of agricul-
tural products. A review of the history
of scientific agriculture in Connecticut was
given, the chief subjects dwelt upon being
the invention by Whitney of the cotton-gin,
the importation by Humphrey of sheep.
the institution here at Yale of the first
agricultural professorship in the country
and the work of Professor Atwater OF
Middletown. The professor closed by eX-
tending a cordial invitation to delegates to
visit the Peabody Museum, the college
library and the college buildings, also the
manufactures of the city and other places
of interest.
b G. Yanccy Of Georgia returned thanks
said he missed the venerable faces OF
Judge Hitchcock and others who had for
merly been his preceptors here, and rs be
walked through the streets he felt that all
those whom formerly he knew were gone,
He alluded to the empty benches, and said
it was difficult to organize farmers and
planters into societies and get them to at
tend meetings like this and listen to essays
on agricultural subjects. Yet there was
no occupation where education was more
needed. The elements of foods and OF
fertilizers should be understood. The
speaker alluded to the visit 10 Georgia OF
Eli Whitney. and said that in every ore OF
the states where cotton was raised the
name of Eli Whitney was associated with
the cotton-gin, and would be Transmitted
to their children. He closed lengthy ad-
dress by thanking the local committee for
the welcome extended the congress
The congress at twelve O'Clock took a
recess until half-past two o'clock.
TUESDAY AFTERNOON.
The congress was called to order at 2.45
p. M.,when additional delegates and others
were present, among whom were Elk Gov.
Hyde of Connecticut, Hon. j. r. Dodge of
Washington, d. c., Patrick Barry, Roch-
ester, N. Y, Leander Wetherell, Boston,
Mass, A. w. Cheever of the NeaO England
Farmer, o. NJ. Tinkham of the GREEN
MOUNTAIN FREEMAN, Theo. Henry Gen
merit, of Portland Maine. Mr.. Gennert is
Just now prominent as the man who is the
champion of the beet sugar interest in
America, and has now mandatory
nearly ready in Maine for again trying the
experiment of making sugar from beets,
which is successful in France and Ger
many, but which resulted so disastrously
in Chatsworth Illinois, where MIR. Gen
merit first attempted to start the manufac
ture.
Hon. Thomas z. James, the president
delivered the opening address. Mr.. james
said:
In q country so vast as ours, embracing
such variety of soil, climate and produc
tons, it seems peculiarly appropriate tina
representatives of that great interest, a
once the Oldest of the arts and the young
est of the sciences, agriculture, SHOULD
assemble semi-annually for the discussion
of the great fundamental principles, boil
of the art and the science; for the inter
change of thought, experience and obser
walton, for mutual instruction and for tn
advancement of the interests of progressiv
agriculture in every section Of our grea
country. He spoke of the qualification
felt in seeing so many present who's
names had become household words a
workers in the field of agriculture, so man
educators in the science, so many who ha
contributed and are contributing, in til
lecture room, the laboratory, the agricu
tural journal, the experimental field, an
in the practical work on the farm, to til
establishment Of true principles whic
point the road to successful agriculture
This is field on which we can all me-
in common, with one common interes
and all labor for the general good.
Strictly national in character and oil
iects, this congress furnishes the mediul
Tor the discussion of the relations of OF
diversified interests which is furnished
no other organization on the continen
Its sessions usually have the best tale
and most progressive minds from the fell
of agriculture, art, science and educatio
and its suggestions merit the careful co
sideration of the people and their legisl
tors, and it was the province OF this CO
gress to consider the obstacles barring Il
advancement of progressive agricultur
and suggest the means for their removal
There is no occupation of man wifi
calls to its aid more of the sciences thi
agriculture. Geology, chemistry, metec
ology, entomology, botany, zoology, a
all tributary to it. Liberal education b
no broader field for its successful use TIL
in agriculture, and its importance to t
farmer could not be over estimated.
mentioned as educational agencies the
partment of agriculture, especially
statistical bureau; the grange, all nation
and local agricultural societies, fairs a
farmers clubs, whose benefits it is diffic
TO estimate. Efficient as these are, tn
are not equal to all that is necessal
There must be a systematic education
the young in those sciences which are
lated to agriculture, and this can be dc
efficiently by
AGRICULTURAL SCHOOLS AND COLLEGE
He spoke of the establishment by c.
gress of the agricultural colleges and
formidable obstacles they had met.
least of which was the habit of thought
the people, who were accustomed to reg,
agriculture merely as an art One CT
supposed the student would be taught b
to pillow and plant and hoe and reap, a
naturally concluded these could be bet
learned on the farm. Another class, p
iudiced against 'book farming" suppo!
that science and theory alone were to
taught. withheld their support. A lai
class of farmers themselves believe a
education beyond that of an elements
character is absolutely undesirable, if l
positively injurious to those who are to
practical farmers, and to many men
Term practical farmer excludes the idea
education. Thus, the colleges have
overcome prejudice deep-rooted and vii
in tho vary class on which thev depend