Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1880-02-27
A Notable Gathering.
MEETING or THE PoULTNEY INDUSTRIAL So
Getty



CIETY.
PourNEY. Vt, Thursday, Feb. 10.
The fourth winter meeting Of tie Poutney
Industrial Society commenced at 10 O'Clock
a. IN. in Joslyn Hail. with fair attendance
Prayer was offered by Rev. Mr. jefferson of
. the Baptist church, followed by the address
Of welcome hy Rev. Mr.. Truax of the Meth
odst church. Hon Barnes Frisbce of Poul
ney read paper upon the subject of ''man-
uiacturcs as connected with farming"
This was Il paper brimful of interesting
thoughts and suggestions, showing the adj
vaniages Of having IL home market by the To-
cation of manufacturing interests in our
midst, which save freight and stimulate pro-
duciion. We regret That lack of space pre-
vents our giving it entire This closed the
forenoon session.
WEDNESDAY, AFIEENooN.
Promptly at two O'Clock p IN, the hall
was filed with people, the attendance being
even larger ti.an at the forenoon session,
| The audience We're favored with another
musical treat by the quartette, when the
chairman introduced Mr.. GrcnvIlle NJ. In
galshc Of Washington county, New York,
who delivered lengthy and well written
address, full of valuable thoughts and sugges-
tions upon the various phases of agriculture,
its needs and requirements TO attain the
highest success. lie criticised the rail
road monopolies, and spoke of Vanderbilt
drawing his check for hundreds to aid the
sufferers and more recently for millions to
monopolizc the railroad interest by purchase
of other lines. What the farmer needs, is
more union of action in guarding their in
terests, more consolidation and united effort
The farmer lacks esprit d. corps. Place
men devoted to your interest in the impor-
tant official positions. The address was lis
tened to with careful attention, although
occupying over an hour and half in its de-
livery.
The chairman said he took pleasure in be
ing able to announce that among others who
had endcavorcd to aid these meetings, the
Poultncy band had generously proifercd
their assistance and would play this evening.
After another of the beautiful songs" given
by the quartctte whose fine rendition the
gratified audience never failed to manifest
their appreciation of, the president ex-
pressed his regret that Mr.. Tinkham, who
had been advertised to address them. was
unable to be present He, however, cx-
pressed his pleasure in being able to intro
ducc Hon. Alexis 7. Smith of Nergcnnes,
who had formerly been j member of the
Board of Agriculture.
Mr.. Smith apolgized for his lack of pre-
paration and after paying the last speaker,
Mr.. Ingasbe, a handsome compliment for
his able address, referred to the sentl-
ments contained in the address of welcome
which he said were such as would meet with
the hearty approval of all. The speaker
said he would tell the little Il know about
farming" 1t is true as the chairman has re-
marked, | have been a former member
of the Board, and in the meetings with
them in various parts OF the state
have learned much of benefit to myself,
and while upon several occasions have
spoken upon subjects connected with farm
ing, have never felt myself able to instruct
the large and intelligent audiences there as
sembled. Since coming TO this place have
visiten several of its important manuiactur-
ing industries, and prominent among them
the Cabinet creamery mandatory of Moseley
& Stoddard. These creamerics, so useful to
the farmer, when | compare then. conven
fence TO that of the old-tashioned way when
we used the old earthen pans when | com
pare the old tools and implements used in
early days to the advantages of the present
time, | see how the standard is thus raised
which enables us to successfully compete i'll
foreign markets with our own products.
| What the farmer wants is margin after
paying taxes, and he would like the ability to
pay the interest too. We are all searching
for that margin, and say godspeed TO all
efforts in the search. The speaker referred
| TO the financial struggle through which we
had passed and expressed his belief that we
are now where we can see part way through
Government officials ought to aid our efforts
in agriculture. This is not only struggle
between labor and capital, put struggle Tor
| homes "a q
dom and management of the mcnat the head
of the Government, and believed the policy
of disposing Of the bonds drawing low rates
of interest was sound policy. I'VE must
have low rates of interest if we would stem
| the tide" He had confidence in the Gov
| ernment and faith in the administration OF al
fairs so as to harmonic labor and capital. He
| referred to the prospects Of the dairy interest
which at one time had gloomy outlook, but
| regarded the prospects now much brighter.
Time was when the profitable production of
beef and wool seemed passing into the hands
of the West, but then we relied on dairying.
| Now, creameries are improving the quality
of the butter West, and a good article they
make. Now dairying is also going. He hoped
| the Government would reduce the rate of in-
terest, he would like to see it come-ycs! for
one, would like to see 1t come before to-mor
clapping Of hands Farming with the
improved implements of to-day is
very encouraging, and Il young man to-day
in Vermont can purchase and stock farm
and run it equally rs well rs any
where else in the Union. In closing
the speaker referred TO the wealth OF
the State and paid handsome compliment
to Col. Joyce, who he said had stood up TO
the rack and done his whole duty, and he is
part of the wealth Of our State. Hearty
cheers lie ridiculed the idea that farmers as
a class are ignorant and closed with the re-
mark that There is just as much Intelligence
to the square foot, among the farmers OF
Vermont as in any other class on Gods foot
stool" Meeting adjourned TO ! p. m.
The evening meeting was entertained with
an interesting address by Albert Chapman of
Middlebury, upon the subject of ''Sheep
Husbandry'
He had always been among sheep from his
youth and in going abou; the State he found
complaints about sheep running down etc. He
was raised on farm where they had 4 to 200
sheep on it and it also had quite dairy reputa-
ton. Had in fact SOME Is cows At that time
We could get 80 bushels shelled corn per acre
to-day the same land won't produce 40 bush
els to the acre, or keep half as many cows or
sheep as then The result has been diScourag
ing to dairy farming. Sheep go up in price
and cattle go down, and cattle 30 up and
shcepgo down. But he believed ii best 10 stick
direct to one or the other right through these
times. Our hilly lands in Vermont are not
adapted to long wooded sheep, they are more
adapted TO the tratlitionary origin of fine
wooded sheep. Prof Agassiz had said that
coarse woods originated on the plains and
mcrino or short wool sheep upon the hills
no of Y IS
largely due TO the altitude and atmosphere
of our State, than to the skill of breeders
The poorest flock in Vermont to-day will
shear more wool than the best flock import
ed from Spain where these sheep were
brought from.
In 1875, Saxon wool was coarSer, accord
ing to careful measurement, than anything
have been able to obtain to-day. We have
increased the length of staple almost do..blc.
Southdown wool grows finer amongst the
hills Merino sheep are not near as oily as
when first brought here from Connecticut.
Naturally black oily sheep will wash out
nearly white when exposed to heavy ram
storms. But sheep treated with burnt amber
and oil cannot he thus washed out. In
provcment in wool is not the desired point,
but pure blood to sell To western dealers.
Pure bred stock reproduces its kind. A car
loads of Merino sheep have been shipped
from Middlebury station alone this year. |
know !. man who can to-day sell many sheep
from his flock ut $500 per head. Quite
common among US TO sell them for 1925 10
$50 each.
As to prices its poor sheep that will
not sell for Sl5 and all good sheep command
large PRICES 81 hAl has h.ali, --S---ed TOT Id
sneep in Addison County. | know where
one man sold n ram for $500 and ewes for
800, and refused 10 sell more at that price.
Single lambs have been sold for 5000 and
| know numbers who have refused higher
prices.
Another man went with 81 200 in his