Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1881-12-21
Earmers, Meeting a, Bradford.


The meeting Of thu board Of agriculture
commenced at 10 O'Clock A. N, December
5th inst by the choice Of w. II Gilmore.
E,q., chairman of the meeting, and DR..
H. A. Cutting as secretary. The organic
alton was followed by remarks by Gov.
Farnham.
He said-That il was with more than
ordinary satisfaction that on this occasion
in this place he spoke few words OF in
production in behalf of the state board of
agriculture now gathered here, and wOrd-
of warm welcome on the part Of farmers
and people of this town and vicinity With
the rich and crowded programme that is
before us, | have time for but few remarks.
The legislature at its last session establish
ed the board ofagriculture, tOcUrsist of the
governor, the president of the University
of Vermont and state agricultural college,
and six other persons to he appointed by
the governor and confirmed by the senate
Che board is formed TOR the improvement
Of agriculture and the general interests OF
husbandry; also for the promotion OF az
ricultural education throughout the STATE.
70 accomplish this object the act provide,
that the board shall hold one meeting at
least in each county in the state annually,
and may hold others as it shall deem ex
pedient. II is our good fortune to have
The Orange county meeting at this place,
and right gladly do we welcome it here
Though Vermont is a prosperous state and
farmers generally are an Independent class,
vet that great Improvements and advancee
may he made in agriculture here is beyond
loubt,tr and such gatherings as this are
among the means that must encourage
Improvement Let u welcome such
means, and with ears open gather any
ideas thai will DO us good. and improving
upon them il we can accep' their all III
he work of the farm.
These remarks were folio we'd by An
address OF DR.. II. A Cutting, upon h.
work OF the bord and huw they wele
enabled to bring ideas from our par o,
The state to another, to the advtntag" OF
all. He wished all TO bring forward their
best methods of cultivation that they might
be discussed and the good thus brought
nut to benefit othe 5. The great want Ol
the farmers was means OF fcrlliiAa ION
mat would bring great results with small
outlay, and such should be sought Tor
Ashes, bones, the refuse OF the Sluk, TIN
drains, me barn,-aIl should be saved and
utilized. Excessive iuauuring was not an
advantage Many farmers WIS ed money
by manuring too much. He explained The
capabilities of the plant to take nourlSh
ment and its needs; strongly
he determination beforehand from ex
pertinent what kind of plant food was
needed and then to supply only saoh need
md thus get better crops for less money
He brought out by forcibe illustrate $
from farm life the mistakes of men thai
hink they know how to do everything
better than they can learn FROM books On
advice, and showed how costly their ex
perieuce often was 10 them. He strongly
urged manuring in the winter, especially
grass land. He gave his reasons, step BY
step, and his arguments were convincing
10 most present.
This welcome and excellent address WA:
followed by II lively questioning, wmcl
continued until 1890 o clock, when The
meeting ad jeurned until p. VI
AFTERNOON SESSION.
The audience came together promptly
and in largely increased numbers in h'
afternoon, and listened with great interes
| to n paper on MIXED farming by h. Il
rOwle, member of the board.
This was followed by II lively discussion
which elected many lacss worth knowing
from the intelligent farmers of BrailOr'
and vicinity, who seem to have good farm
and know very well how 10 TILL them.
s., al hal h,, far
IN this vicinity could raise corn for iron
70 10 40 cents per buS9el
The next pager WAS read by Hon. Wm
Child OF Fairlee, upon the "Home and Oc
rupation OF the farm
The home Of the farmer, though humbl
IN all thai appertains TO Internal or exter
nal appearance, it can be-and we thin
Is III most cascs--the abode OF peace, pen
| ~ of all else that insure5 10 the genera
good and happiness of the household, bot
intellectually and phyiscally-iur We ottr
ana in the farmers library IL well selecie
stock of books, pamphlets and periodical
OF various kinds, furnishing ample too
for the minu-whlle wellstoled larde
supplies the variOns wants OF the ply sica
| man
| Although It's often said, and that, toe
with much truth OF many portions of !arl
labor, as being very laborious and III
pleasant. This we admit, and would rs
10 be shown the occupation or prolesslo
that does not very often present dar
and unpleasant side to either the menta
Or physical faculties of lis followers.
| No occupation in life can be all sunshn
| Il iNy,. hi
unless followed by strict care aud vlgllanc
IN the part of its pursuers, and mar
must be the perplexites of risks inclden
To the various calllngs and avocatIons {
lite; large share OF which the farmer
partially or wholly exempt from. an
knows, comparatively speaking, nothin
about.
| We find ourselves On this mundan
sphere under an injunction to learn on
b, cad by the sweat Of our brow" aud h
who violates his command does so to tn
injury Of himself or his neghbor,
The various trades and occupations de
pend in 81 greater or less degree upon tn
farmer for success in their different caIling
and allow me to aSg-where will yo
find the professional man, The merchant
altIztn, or mechanic, who can say he doe
not measure his success or failure in
gr, alter or less degree--by the prosperl
or adversely OF the farming community
The successful farmer Is, OF course,
man of Thoughts brain worker-yet i
studying oul his plans for successful prac
ice his mint is not biased or Influence
like the lawyer VINO sludously searche
The various precedents and legal opinion
IN support OF doubtful case, nor is he i
that responsible position of The physcIi,
when called upon to act on the spur OF tn
nome in Il case of extreme bodily su
terlng to administer his antidote, or appi
MS surgical skill with trembling han,
lest by some mistake or error in jndg,
menJ he lays himself liable 10 defend
suit for mai practice. Neither like til
clergyman whose unpleasant duty loudl
calls on him 10 combat II crying and dan
gclous moral evil in the community /
which he has an oversight, or over whic
he is ordained Us II Waterman.
Neither is the farmer necessarily excite
ny doubts and fears incident to the variou
, trades lest some unforeseen competitio
, should interfere with his darling >chen. Q
nor should he be in the anxious seat
extreme torment like the politician, VINO
d, a 4.