Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1879-03-14

The roomy Baptist church in Addison was
well filled on Thursday evening last, with |
an interested audience from Addison and |
adjoining towns, who were met to listen to |
addresses on agriculture from Hon. E. ID. |
Mason, Of Richmond. VT, and Hon. A. L. |
Smith, Of Vergennes. The meeting was
called to order by Rev. K. Mott. pastor Of
the church, who introduced Mr. Mason and |
announced the theme OF his remarks, |
Farming" Mr.. Mason said, in brief, that |
true farming consisted moro in improving
the farm and adding steadily to your in
come, than in merely besutIfying the
grounds and raising fancy stock at fancy |
prices. This is well for those having am
pie means. but it is not fair example to |
hold up to farmers as class. Ii farmers
desire to succeed and prosper, they must
materially increase their predictions. Ii
il no harder to cultivate an acre OF very
rich land than an acre OF poor land, but 1t
makes a great difference with the income OF
the farmer. lie was pleased to see that
men of science were now hand in hand with
the farmer IN adopting cheap fertilization,
which consists in utilising the waste pro-
duets of the farm. The successful farmer
will save the waste from the barn-yard, the
Incorporate the two the waste water from
the kitchen, etc.. and see that everything is
made to swell the compost heap. Perhaps
we have here the difference between success
Gul and unsue cessful farming-the secret
of making two blades OF grass grow where
but one grew before Early cut hay gives
a larger butter and cheese product.
Question, by Representative Hayward
Would not an increase of quantity decrease
the price, No; there is no limit to the
market for good butter. lie advised all
butter makers to learn Of their more eI-
perienced neighbors; average yield per COW
III to 100 lbs. per year !; recommended
economy, more work on the farm and less
squandering of time in the village; keep
book accounts; encourage education, in
your own family and in the district; knowl-
edge is as useful and as necessary to the
farmer as to the professional man ; don't send
the boys away educate them here: science
is the guiding star OF successful farming
he cited the ease of Mr. Scott. Of Uraltsbury,
whose grade n0Ts eYualled any fancy breeds
the one made $50 lbs, the other 63i lbs.
of butter in one year-beating the fancy
stock he did not, believe in costly manures,
$50 to $50 per ton but use what YOU have
on the farm and equally good results will
| follow despite the Go West cry, YER
mont is Just as good as sny Western State.
Question by Mr.. 5 Smith Is it truc that
there is but one line of profitable produce
| for the farmer? No sir ; raise early lambs,
poultry-but the woIlen succeed best with
| the poultry. Ills lecture was interspersed
with anecdOte and illustration, and was full
of interest throughout. 1t was character
| lied by good common sense, and WAS listen
ed to with profit by all,
Mr.. Smith vas then introduced lie
said lie was pleased to come among friends
and neighbors and take part with his friend,
Mr.. Mason. vino was good authority in
matters pertaining to farming. As
member OF the Board of Agriculture he
related his experience while attending some
of the meetings held in various parts Of the
State lie had derived much benefit and
| information FROM the farmers whom be net
| at those meetings lie was opposed to the
\ appropriation of funds by the State to be
spent IN the analysis of fertilizers, believing
1t to he useless expenditure OF money. lie
alluded to the sympathy expressed by q
| certain class Of theorista, v bu manifest deep
sympathy iOr the farmer, and are perfectly
| willing TO instruct him in his farm duties
but never labor themselves. lie did not
believe that the farmers we've ignorant, as
some represented them, but on the con-
trary, they were intelligent and competent
referring to the matter of fertilizers, he
expressed the belief that every farm pos
sessed within itself the requisite amount OF
iertilising material, if properly utilized by
increasing the grass crop and stock on
the farm. He also referred to the vsrl-
Gus methods OF setting milk, airing the
ine-spun theories OF some in reference to
the teints and odOrs in milk, by citing
the Cooley system, established upon direct
ly opposite principles lie exp lained his
position IL defending the educational
interests of the State against the attacks
made upon it by those who were desirous OF
founding an agricultural institution to be
run in their own interest at the expense oil
the State. In maintaining this position he
naturally incurred the wrath o! the Whiting
farmer, who in q newspaper article design
ed to hiring reprOach upon the University OF
Vermont, asserted that he (Smltbl was
their accredited advocate, and using Ian
guagc in the article unbecoming farmer,
much less candidate for Governor.
The speaker Indignantly disclaimed any
COLLISION with the officers OF the University
of Vermont; his position was the resnl. of
his own convictions, Believing them to be
state. lie referred to the great deprecia-
tion IN value OF real estate, saying taxes and
interest bore heavily on the de btor class
1t is to be hoped that no further de-
probation will become necessary. 10 con-
Guiding his remarks, he feelingly alluded
to his CORNER residence among them,
and the kindness and sympathy extended to
himself and family when his house was
burned, ard closed by saying he had not
given them an eloquent address. and ''you
did not expect it Of me-" The audience
responded with GOOD enough" accom-
panied by hearty applause.
The Rev. Mr.. Mott spoke of his little
farm Of less than an acre, and gave the re-
suit OF his efforts in the farming line, which,
to say the least, was most surprising
Mr.. R. c. GJOdals was called on, and
responded in brief but timely remarks. in
the course OF which he recommended
thorough farming the best use of all our
lands said Vermont is the banner State,
and Addison is the banner town, and we
live in the banner county, and We are as
we'll represented at Washington as any
other. To which Mr. Mason respo nded,
YES, and a little BETTER
| Mr.. Ii. c. johnson. of the VermOnier,
was repeatedly called for. lie said: lie
thought they made a mistake in calling
| him up, as it was farmers meeting. Still
he was pleased to be there; had been
entertained and benefited by the interest
| ing and instructive addresses delivered;
told an anecdOte on the results of village
farming as referred to by Mr.. Mason said
farming was the most honorable and
independent Of eallings; it had always
been so regarded /; he counselled home cul
ture. public and private virtue and integrity
as traits which should be the boast and
pride of every farmers home. From
Washington at Mount Vernon to our own
day. all our leading statesmen have
turned their attention 10 this subject have
desired to own and till the soil, and it is
the tillers of the soil who constitute the
real strength of the nation seek to make
it noble occupation, the school of manly
independence worthy the free government
We live under. The speakers remarks were
frequently spplauded and lett the meeting
in the best of humor at its close. Not the
last pleasing feature of the evenings
experience was al hour spent by 4 party
which included Messrs. Mason, Smith,
johnson and others at the residence of Mr..
Carlton Read, one of the leading farmers in
Addison. we were entertained with royal