St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1880-09-24


boar pig. VIM. Willis White Chester
boar. P.D. Farr spring pig. w. w
Wright, nice hog.
POULTRY.
Nothing shows the advance in oul
annual exhibitions more than this one
department. Ten years ago half doz-
en- coops of ordinary fowls comprised
the entire exhibit. This year there
we're 70 coops, comprising all the best
variety of hens, turkeys, geese and
ducks. Among the exhibitors were j.
C.. Higgins, Charles Hastings, w. L.
SWEET, Major Bonett, c. l.. Stevens,
Arthur Taplin, Geo. Miner, Geo. Cros-
by, and many others we do not recall
but whose names may appear in the
premium list. There were always ad-
mirers about the chicken coops no mat
ter how much was going on elsewhere.
ADDRESS OF EX-GOV. SMITH.
The chief attraction of the afternoon
was the address of Ex-Gov. Smith of
st. Adams. 1t was nearer to what an
agricultural address ought to be, than
any other that has been delivered upon
these grounds. While we knew Gov.
Smith was an able business man, we
confess we did not expect to hear from
him anything so logical upon this sub
ject, or that his ideas would be framed
in such choice language. We find that
the old farmers were well pleased with
the sentiments uttered. A stand had
been erected for the occasion in front of
the ampitheatre, and at the appointed
hour several prominent and well known
gentlemen of the community took seats
thereon, when Ex-Gov. Fairbanks in
troduced the speaker to the audience.
Gov. Smith began by referring to the
great political excitement now agitat-
ing the country, and what a good thing
it was, notwithstanding the excitement.
that all parties were enjoying their po-
litical rights. With a wise government
and beneicent laws, none need fear the
general results to the industries and
prosperity of the nation. Vermont was
pre-eminently an agricultural state
We have no great cities or manufac-
turing centres. Our chief interests are
closely allied to the cultivation of the
soil. After the land had been cleared
and our homes made, the first duty was
to look to the soil,-keeping it in the
condition of improvement. For long
time we suffered for the want of good
markets, and our greatest prosperity
came when the facilities for marketing
were increased. Then business life be-
gan to he quickened, and wealth came
into the state. For many years Yer
mont was the chief butter and cheese
locality. At this time the Genesee Val
ley was the great grain centre of the
east but sOon "Westward the Star of
Empire" began to take its way little by
little, until a great continent teams
with activity, enterprise and prosperi-
ty. And as enterprise and improve
ments have spread, higher type of
civilization has appeared.
1t was once thought to be unprofita-
BILE to send products to foreign lands.
In those times the large population of
Massachusetts and other New England
centres required about all we had to
spare. But now things have changed,
and have become remunerative in pro-
portion to our new improvements of
transportation, and the increase of new
inventions. This great revolution in
the new means of trade has made farm
ing more profitable. Exports are des-
tined to largely increase. The era of
promise and encouragement is great
Rivalry of transportation lines will
make better markets for the world.
The West is feeding the rest of the
world. 1t is making encroachments
upon Vermont. The West is our won
der and our admiration. There is no
knowing what it's vastness may yet pro-
duce. 1t may be the future seat of
empire! But it would not have been
what it now is, had not our fathers
landed upon the rockbound and ster-
lie coast of New England. The West
owes its present prosperity to the hon.
esty, sobriety, and hardness of New
England people. This star of empire
no man can stop. The sooner we I'M
derstand and provide for these things,
the better it will be for us. There is a
natural remedy for all the ills of finan-
cial distress. All things considered,
Vermont is the equal of any state in an
agricultural point of view. What it
needs is higher standard.
Our farms need to be titled with more
thoroughness and care to reap the great
est reward. We cannot reap without
paying back. What had been done up
on the banks of the Nile would teach
US good lesson, where for thousands
of years narrow belt of land had sup
ported an immense population. Not
only must our cultivated fields be seen
to, but our pastures must be as well.
Our COWS do not make butter enough,
though Vermont makes the most to the
COW of any state in the Union. The
time was when the west made only in
ferior butter; but now, its intelligence
and devotion to the subject makes
equal, and often a superior article.