St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1880-03-12
Agricultural Meeting at Peacham.

Col. j. B. Mead, Supt. of agriculture,
assisted by o. M. Tinkham, of Pomfret,
and Prof. Sanborn, Supt. of the N. H.
experimental farm at Hanover, held an
agricultural meeting at Peacham, COM
mencing ON Monday evening, Feb. %,
and continuing through the following
day and evening. The meeting was
called to order by the president-Cloud
Harvey, Esq.,-and opened with prayer
by Rev. Mr.. Jenne. We can only give
a brief summary of the many valuable
facts communicated and ideas given,
which were listened to by goodly
number of men and women of this and
adjoining towns. Col. Mead commenc-
ed by saying that agriculture as a
whole needs great deal of knowledge
the largest amount of general infOr-
NATION of any business. Formerly it
was thought that but little learning
was needed to be farmer, but now
those who are making the greatest sue
cess in farming are those who are the
best informed. Many and many far
mer is g1Oaning under mortgages and
taxes, for farming as whole has not
been very successful in Vermont. AS
all men and animals have to be fed
from the products of the earth, it be-
comes a great question hOir this shall be
done. There are lots of worn out farms
in the state, which are waiting for oc-
cupancy and for earnest, energetic men
to cultivate them. A farm to-day can
be bought in Vermont cheaper than ut
the West. We have suffered greatly
by immigration to the West. There
are 300 farms in il single county in the
state, left by their occupants who have
gone West. Still there are more peo-
pie in Vermont to-day who are making
success of farming than ever before
= made so 10y farmers studying their vO-
cation. The first requisite of success
full farming is to know how to recu-
) perate the soil. Agriculture is coming
to be a science, and science is based
: upon immutable laws. Some of the
: most valuable discoveries have beer
made by great number of mistakes
5 We come to discuss in these things.
The fertilization of soils was the frs
t. subject of discussion. In Germany
}, many scientific men are engaged il
studying the chemistry of agriculture
=; of foods, and fertilizers and students
t in agriculture are there held in tn,
y highest estimation. The demand il
;. going to be for men of science to con
e duct experiments in agriculture-thos.
> who are hOrOugh-men who are not 40,
do not aUant. The best things come by
effort. This is true in spiritual al
= well as material things.
Two essential ingredients which soil
must bave are Potash and Nitrogen
All plants get more or less nitrogen
from the air-sOmewhat from the soil
n In ton of stable manure we sbtail
only 30 pounds of plant food; still thu
mechanical effects are great beyOnt
what it has of plant food. In leachin.
l. entdtiOn we lose nitrogen. Fermenta
tiOn is cOmbustiOn-combus is burn
ing. Tillage does more than half TIL,
work. We do not plow or cultivat,
enough.
Tuesday, a. M, meeting opened by
e the reading of the 65th Psalm by Col
6 Mead. Singing by the choir, "God il
e love, his mercy briehtens all the path
in which we mOve," and prayer by Rev
Mr.. Wilde. Subject of discussion
Fertilizers. Col. Mead commenced b,
= reference to the command given on
first parents to dress and keep the "Gar
den of Eden" How Adam failed t,
do this; and how have we failed to d,
it. The laws which govern plant growtl
r are immutable. God in his wisdom pro
vided infinite stores, which should b.
" discovered just at that time when the,
# were to be most needed for our use
Nitrate of Soda is needed for the sue
}. cessful growing of wheat, and immens,
4 beds of this are found in Chill and Per
+ sia. PhOsphOric Acid. another essen
|. tial ingredient of the soil, of which W,
: are deficient, is found in inexhaustibl,
. deposits of "Appotile Rock" in Cana
c da, 80 to IS per cent of which al,
+ Phosphoric Acid.
: "Potash ROckn is found in Germany
from 18 to 20 hundred feet in depth
I from which come the German Potasl
Salts. There are wonderful deposits O
: Phosphoric Acid in animal phosphatel
: found at the junction of the Ashley anC
!, Cooper rivers in South Carolina. L
;, you purchase ton of phosphate yol
l. buy 1850 pounds of material which Vol
l. do not want, therefore in PURCHASING
\ fertilizers be careful to purchase onl,
g those things in which your soil is de
" ticient to grow the special crop you de
e sire to raise. Prof. Stockbridge's for
mula ignores the soil in his experiments
) and are too expensive for my (Mead's
farm. His phosphates are best for ger,
!, sandy soils. In my experiments hav,
$ obtained good results from Muriate O
: Potash applied to land planted to corn
J, 2OO pounds of which applied, broadcas
: to the acre, gave Sc bush. corn (S(
8 pounds to the bushel.)
S j. r. Kinerson confirmed the speak
p ers remarks about the benefits of not