Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-02-26
Agricultural Meetings.


parts of the state by Colonel Mead, super
intendent of agriculture, are generally very
successful and largely attended. As the
Colonel has many times stated, the labors
of the Board of Agriculture during the past
eight years have SO generally stimulated the
spirit of inquiry and improvement among
the farmers that whereas, in the beginning,
very small attendance on their meetings
was the rule, for the last five or six years
large and interested audiences of farmers
and their families have assembled to enjoy
and take part in the work of agricultural
progression. This awakened interest does
not subside under the change of method,
and assemblies limited only by the capacity
of the halls in which they met have been
the rule wherever Colonel Mead has been
called. Severe and stormy weather has
sometimes prevented large concourse of
people to single meetings but as rule there
has been no lack of attendance, and in the
smaller meetings the spirit and enthusiasm
has been such that their influence has been
greatly for good.
But notwithstanding the large attendance
and interest shown in these meetings, it is
evident to all who have had experience of
the past, under the Board land not less so
to Colonel Mead himselD, that it was
great mistake to throw all of the work
upon single man which had before been
divided between six or eight. There is no
saving of expense; the annual appropria-
ton for the superintendent being the same
as for the Board-S2, 5O0.-The new arrange
ment simply requires of the superintendent
the same amount of work that was before
divided between the secretary and the men,
bers of the Board, and gives him the sum
as salary and expenses which was before
paid to the secretary as his salary and to the
m embers of the Board for their expenses
The new arrangement also compels greater
scattering of the work, so that an afternoon
and evening in each place is all that can be
given. In this way more meetings are held
but the concentration and growth of inter
est and the thorough discussion of subjects
are prevented. The general feeling mani
Tested is that just as the meeting has got
well to going it has to be broken up.
In Massachusetts, Maine and Connecticut
the Boards of Agriculture, like our Dairy
mems Association, hold but one public
meeting during the year. The New Hamp-
shire and Vermont Boards, with smaller
appropriations, have held from twenty to
thirty such meetings in the same time, with
out cutting down the length of each meet
ing, which has usually been two days, with
three sessions day. This has given time
subjects, so that all interests have been well
attended to. The Boards have been made
up of men selected for their knowledge and
skill in various branches of agriculture, and
thus there was usually some one to lead off
on each topic, and to get the people warmed
up, and willing to talk and take part in the
meeting, thus making it a success in the
direction of practical usefulness. All who
have made themselves familiar with the
matter have recognized the advantage of
this arrangement, and have not seen how, in
principle it could be bettered. In the states
where only annual meetings were mad there
has been some complaint that but few of the
farmers were reached with that for which
all were taxed. In our state the Board went
annually into every county, and sooner or
later to every town where they were in
vited, or where the people offered any en-
enlargement that meeting could be success
fully held.
The attacks upon our Board of Agricul-
ture and its methods have not come from
the farmers. The meetings have given great
satisfaction all over the state, and even the
politicians and demagogues who abolished
the Board at the last legislature in defiance
Of the farmers vote could only do so by pro
viding for continuance of the meetings
Indeed, they used the argument of more
meetings as one cunning device to get the
vote of few agricultural members from
towns where the Board had not yet made
itself known by its presence
The pretense of economy was bold fraut
upon the people, so far as the substitution
of the Board by SUPPLEMENTARY was con
cerned. The appropriation for each is thu
same, and necessarily so, since no smalle
sum would provide for the cost of the worl
demanded. The only opening for economy
was in the doing away of the Report, thu
saving the cost Of its printing. This coulC
have been done without any change in tn
constitution of the Board. If it was tn
judgment of the Legislature that the Repor
cost more than it was worth to the people
then they were justified in disseminating it
publication. But to continue the meeting
at the same cost, with an impairment @
their efficiency, was not economy; it wa
stupidity.
And in fact malice and stupidity wer
the forces busy in this business during tn
legislative session. Half dozen men wit
political axes to grind, or personal grievance
persistent dinging and lobbying, and til
too great confidence of the leading farmer
in the legislature, it never could have bee
accomplished. Now that it has been a
complished the general demand is for
restoration of the Board, and it is not
worthy that the very men who worked
abolish the board, and who could only G
votes enough to do it by providing for
continuance of the meetings in another wa
are now working as hard to beittle the wol
Of Colonel Mead, and to defame him pc
sonally, as they previously did with regal
to the Board. While they damaged the
terests of the farmers, and won nomin
victory, they were really defeated, and a
well conscious of the fact. The meeting
and the awakening of the farmers to tn,
true interests, 60 on. If one man must
the work it would be hard to pick a bett
one than Colonel Mead Let us thank &c
ernor Proctor for that. II one of the m
ions of that little ring which fought agar
the Board had received the appointme
then indeed would victory have been