Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-03-02
Board OF Agriculture AZ Peachsm.


ings, held Thursday and Friday
THURSDAY MORNING.
After the reading Of some letters asking yarou,
questions, which elected no information not pre
viously published, but general discussion, DR.
Cutting spoke Of the various means Of fertiliza-
ton on grass without tillage and advocated the
plat system OF experiments lie spoke Of the
drift which gave us our soil from the north and
gave general directions about fertilization ant
means OF discovering Its exhaustion He re.
marked that all should try their own experiments
but II they failed to do so they should at Least
watch the experiments Of their neighbors, and In
making up their minds should take into consd
GRAFTON the character OF the soil, whether the
same or not, and the line Of drift should in part
determine that as well az whether hillside OF
meadow.
Mr.. j. r. KeDerson fully endorsed the secre.
tarys views. In reply to questions as TO vermin
in the bark OF fruit trees the secretary gave the
usual remedies, but urged the cutting down and
burning of all poor trees infested with black knot,
and trimming off and burning bad limbs on all
infected trees. For the bark louise strong soap
suds should be used, and the washing Of the
trees when the insect was young and tender. in
stead OF waiting for convenient time. The exact
time for washing could be told by the appearance
OF the young, but there should be one washing
in early spring to free the trees from all other
insects. Various reasons for the black heart in
apple trees were given Whatever the cause, the
tree VIII soon die. The secretary recommended
that in buying young trees clause be appended
to the contract that all trees delivered should be
sound and free from any color at the heart, which
could be easily told by cutting branch, for where
there was disease at the heart it extended to the
smallest limbs.
| THURSDAY AFTERNOON.
The secretary addressed the meeting upon "Our
Timber Lands" He urged the trimming up Of
our second growth timber and the planting OF
trees on rocky and useless places; represented
the profit in raising timber and urged the setting
OF trees by the highway for their bonefcent effect
on rainfall, II for no other reason. He said they
broke the wind, mitgated the extremes OF tenn
perature and helped us retain our regular supply
OF rain. DIR. Parker asked various questions
about the rainfall in the west. The answers de-
veloped the fact that rainfall is there especially
in western Kansas and among the mountains,
very uncertain and irregular, following mountain
ranges, which are usually skirted with trees, but
that such rains are often deluging, and are never
to be depended upon for crop culture az here.
Discussion brought out the fact that it is useless
| to apply manure to the surface Of land in winter
unless the land is level, as it would wash off
| into the streams.
In discussion in regard to the use of potash as
fertilizer, complaints were made that it some
| times killed the plant and often retarded its
growth. Dr. Cutting explained that potash, il
| in Jumps, would contain amount which would
kill any roots that came within six inches OF it
Great care should be taken to apply the potash in
finely pulverized condition. or dissolved. There
is less danger OF harmful effect when such con-
centrated fertilizers are applied broadcast, and
mixed with dirt or saw-dust, so it can be evenly
distributed.
THURSDAY EVENING.
This session was almost entirely taken up by
Governor Farnham's address, which, although
Astounding in practical suggestions and eloquence
is much too long for our columns, and no abstract
can do 1t justice. At the close Of the address Mr.
Tinkham recited, Evening on the Farm" when
the meeting adjourned till next morning.
FRIDAY MORNING.
After prayer by Rev Mr. Wild, the subject of
ensilage was taken up and Mr.. Tinkham said he
knew Of six silos in the state and their owners
all spoke enthusiastically of this new departure
He described General CIRCUITS silo in Kirby, sub
''"nsa"y 10 gwen t"s' "eeh' 'e was NO. pre-
p"feu =" give posi''e opinion az 10 "nether IL
"oa'u pay iarhers 70 put IN snos' lie 'housn'
W inIu'ious oieo's ioiio"eu 'ne use vi ehslage'
o,'ne' upou 'ne "n''ia,s Ut upon 'ne pu'.er Ut
omoo'e' o'ios snou'u 10 pfo'eo'eu HUN iros'
The cost will depend upon location soil, and
"'"',"o.' Vi ii,'o''a'' ~ snouiu oe cut nneiy,
~ pie.o 'onsei 'hah haii an ihch Inc amount
Vi iCuuo' i"'seu per acre Varies' s"he getting as
Nn "o 'e'o"S ,ons' d" enou'u oe ou' WHEN
~ ~ tlo"'" 70 ie"'"e' anu oe,oie iios' colnes
"pp''.u .ne uo..e,, uu' ano ,,,,
square foot.
This was followed nv the reading NJ Mr. Good.
wins paper on " Grass and discussion unon tbe
subject The secretarv thopoht ,ha as,;nota ~
Mr. Goodwin on the amoun, q, ma,tar ,okon
from the soil nv a ton NJ bav too large I'm, be
was aware the same estmate was mazda hv cham.
lists. but he Thought more WAS taken from tho air
than was sometimes snnrosed rIa ,,r,ha, a~
plained the action and annlicot;on NJ ohamiool
fertilizers
In replv tn n onestion ba in,imo,oa Tho, In
would only anplv enouvh fer,;lizer for ono ,,oors
crop renewinp from YEAR m VAR "a tho so;, a,a
crop required
FRIDAY AFTERNOON