Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1880-01-12

Col. Meade, Superintendent of -Agri-
culture, assisted by others, held series
of agricultural meetings in Barton, COM
memcing on the evening Of Jan. 8, and
continuing the next day. The meeting
was organized by choosing @. P. Owen
Of Glover, president, and a committee
was appointed to prepare a programme
for the meetings. Supt. Meade opened
the meeting on Monday night by brief
remarks, in which he stated that there
Is apparently a growing interest in agri-
culture, and agricultural knowledge in
Vermont Wherever meetings are held,
there is good attendance, a spirit of
energy and disposition to obtain useful
information on agricultural topics. In
holding meetings it has been his object
to discuss subjects agreeable to those
present and pertinent to the time and
place. In these days of low prices,
sharp rivalry, and improved systems of
agriculture abroad. as we'll as in some
sections of our own country, it is necessa-
ry for our farmers to improve their I'M
derstanding, as we'll as their acres, by
agitation, study, research and expert
ment. A great amount of education is
needed by the farmer in order to make
his important calling profitable. Gov
eminent is doing something congress is
ready to render assistance the press,
agricultural men and agricultural insti-
tutes are all contributing toward the
better education of the farmers of the
nation, and the Vermont farmers should
profit by his opportunities. There is
need of labor here, If we expect to hold
our agricultural status. Other states
are striving to outstrip US, and are al
ready winning some of our laurels.
While the West is filling our markets,
at present, there is one encouraging fact
that the rich soil in many sections is
deterloating, while here, wherever care
full, intelligent farming exists, our sol
is being improved and our crops are in
creased. Col. Meade referred to thu
fact that every successful business at the
present day is managed by system, carr
and intelligence, and queried why farm
ing should not be managed with tn,
same wisdom, care and system. Farm
ing he remarked, is too often done will
no reference to the future-each year i
accounted profitable or otherwise, accord
ing to the gain or loss of that year. Blu
the truth IS, each year is a proftabl
one that adds to the productive capacit,
of the farm. The condition if soil, stock
buildings, tools and prospect of futur
years must all be reckoned in maxim
an estimate of gain or loss in farmin
enterprise. We need observation, study
education to fit us for our business prof
tably. Of late farming has not SCENE
very profitable. but comparatively it ha
been better than almost any occupatio
or business. Many men have seen har
times; some have lost their farms, c
several hundred or thousand dollars the
thought they owned in them few yea,
ago; but few have lost all while
other pursuits there are hundreds of me
stripped bare of every cent. There
no great suffering among our farmer
now, as class, and there seems to be
still brighter prospect ahead; and
would appear well to try carefully to Ell
large operations to meet the demands
the future. There are barren or MOI
producing tracts that need improvir
and retaining, there are divided farm
that should be brought into fertility
become again the homes of intelligel
and industrious families. The speak
desired to extol the high calling of farr
ing and make it with US as with Il
Romans in the days of Roman glory
the most honored calling of life. VIVA
ever shall nerve us to more noble e
deavors in this calling shall be bles
ing to posterity and the world. We a
farming unevenly and blindly. In pro
of this, itmay be stated that reliable Fl
ures show that the cows of Vernon
and this dairy state. have hot paid the
keeping for the last few years. If th
be so, it is time the keeper of COWS
gan to look into the matter of keepil
this stock. What is true of COWS mi
be true of many other things. For t
purpose of obtaining facts, comparil
notes. and discussing subjects interel
ing to us these meetings are held.
Mr.. Ilnkham reported as subjects
meetings on the morrow, "Fertilizati
of the SOIL" and "Dairying." He hir
ed at some of the things which might
alluded to and discussed in the talk
the subjects chosen.
Prof. Atwater of Mass, spoke of t
need Of scientific as we'll as practic
knowledge in farming. So far as he
informed, there is greater desire
know something of the science of far
ing among all live farmers. But th,
is great lack of scientific informant,
While the farmers of this state are
intelligent as any in the country, h