Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1880-01-28
Vermont Dairymen,s Association.

Z. D. Mason, in the chair, Prayer was
offered by Rev. DR.. Thomas, after which
Col. Merritt gave an address of welcome,
in which he spoke highly of the associa-
ton and its work, of the beauty of the vii
laoe of Brandon and its surroundings. lie
spoke of the value Of education, the first
thing farmer needs. Many of the men,
bers of the learned professions think
farmers need no education; but it was Of
first importance, and he confirmed his idea
bv copious extracts from Addison and
Pope. lie spoke of the necessity of care
in the choice of stock, in the products of
the dairy, and in their marketing.
After Col. Merrill's address, the presi-
dent gave his address, which he prefaced
by some account of the late international
dairy fair; how Vermont was not repre-
sented at the fair in 1873; in 1879 she had
seventy packages of butter, forty cheeses,
and took fifteen prizes-thirtecn on the
Vermont and two on the New England ia
BILE; but how many on dairy implements
lie COulu uOI lell' 4hcu lnuot SCo luOii
bread by the sweat of their brows-no
eight hours system would do the work.
If this meeting could find out the cause
of so much poor butter it would do a
great work. If the butter was all good,
it would be clear gain of one hundred
millions of dollars per annum. He spoke
of the desertion of Vermont farms with
regret. Farmers have not only to get a
living for themselves, but for the rest of
the world as well. The subject of ma
nures, then, is the one of prime import
ance We must feed our land if we would
have it feed US.
He spoke of the great amount of exper-
iment necessary, before the foundation of
science of agriculture could be laid The
great mass of our farmers do not know
their business well enough. Any other
business embarked in with an equal lack
would 60 down in ruin, and carry with il
all who had embarked in it. The farmer
occupies the most exalted and important
position; his work puts the wheel of man
ufactures in motion, and causes the sails
of commerce to whten every sea. The
farmer should be the best of Il man and a
citizen. His dealings are with nature in
her pure and elevating influences.
AT the close of his address he suggested
that some action be taken by the associa-
ton on the death of one of its members
during the past year-the Hon. Asahel
Peck.
He next spoke of the bulk Of taxes paid
by the real estate of Vermont, while men
escaped taxation, and he suggested some
action by the association looking to the
remedying of this condition.
Then he spoke of Il set of men with no
brains, who infested our large towns, who
30 into the law, get elected prosecuting
attorneys, get up indictments against par
ties, run them for a year or so, make
several hundred dollars out Of the matter,
and then the suits are mol pressed and the
state and the farmers have the costs to
pay. and recommended that some action
be taken looking toward the remedy of
this abuse
1t was next moved to proceed to the
election of officers, which after some dis.
cussion was ordered, and resulted in the
choice of the old board of officers: Presi-
dent, Hon. E. D. Mason; vice presidents,
Hon. N. I. Sprague, from first district
f. S. Wood second district; G. S. Meal
lister, third district; secretary, o. s.
Bliss; treasurer, II. w. Vail, and trustees
from each county.
The chair appointed as committee or
the death of Hon. Asahel Peck, Hon. J
Gregory Smith, II. w. Vail, Esq, anG
Hon. N. T. Sprague.
A vote, allowing the life membership o
Mr.. Norman Wright, unable to attend the
meetings by reason Of permanent disabili
ty, be transferred to his wife. Adjourned
SECOND SESSION.
MIR. Whitney of Williston read pape
on farming matters, detailing some of hi
experience in farming, the use of fertil
zers and the raising of corn. He advocat
ed broadcast manuring, planting with
corn planter, not planting pumpkins with
corn. and he estimated the value of til,
fodder to be equal TO the cost of producing
the crop. which he had figured at twent,
cents per basket. In questions he wa
asked how deep he would plowP
Ans. He had plowed seven inches. bu
thought the crops not as good as when h
plowed only FIVE inches, and that was tn
depth he preferred. His soil is gravel,
loan.
Mr.. Whitaker followed in some re
marks on the qualities of soil and the nc
ton of water in soils, and the fertility o
the soil depends on its capacity for holdin!
water.
Mr.. Bliss said there were four simpl
elements on which plants depend 70
growth, but omitted to state what the
were; but being questioned said they wer
oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen and carbon
Being asked whether he ever knew O
failure of any crop for lack of these ele
ments, be answered he could not say tina
he had, but thought they would fail if no
supplied with them.
Some discussion followed on the com
paratve merits of deep and shallow pillow
ing, with the usual result of nobody
opinion changed, and about the sam
course and same result in regard to tn
blowing in of manure.
Mr.. Bliss said Mr.. Whitney had referre'
to the market reports as giving the price
ut about one-half what good butter ha
been selling at, and asked if such report
could be relied on. He said that he hat
noticed that the quotations of Vernon
butter were always lower than the grea
majority of butter was sold for.
Mr.. Whitaker said he saw man in
store in Massachusetts buying butter
yesterday morning, for which he paid fort,
cents, and he (Whittaker) way paying thu
same for the butter he used. He spoke O
creamery VS.. dairy butter, and though
the creamery butter was quoted to the hur
of dairy butter, and that really dair,
butter should he quoted the highest
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