St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1881-02-25
Meeting of State Board of Agriculture
at Peacham.

Meeting of State Board of Agriculture
at Peacham.
| The meeting was held Feb. II and 1s, and was
called to order at 1899 A NJ by DR.. Cutting See.
of the board. Cloud Harvey was elected Chair
man G. b. Harvey and E. r. Clark. Secs, No
other members of board being present DIR. Cutting
gave a short talk a recent invention by which
sawdust edgngs, &c, worked into pulp
from which all kinds of articles made from a
small dipper to flour barrels-the latter at cost
of cents piece, sell for 60 cents. Witnessed an
experiment at Portland with nail kegs made from
this material A keg made from this pulp and one
made in common way were chosen taken up three
flights of iron stairs, allowed to roll down. The
common keg burst the last stair. The pulp key
was rolled three times down the stairs and was
then judged to be in better condition for carrying
nails than a common key.
How to kill lice on cattle was asked Fine road
dust was recommended, also sulphur, to be sDrin-
killed. upon the backs of cattle kills the lice by
| stopping up the breathing pores. Would not use
oil dogwOed, a conductor OF heat cold ashes,
too liable by its alkaline properties TO remove the
hair. VIM. Kicker said he never saw lice on fat
cattle. L W. Winter said, the latest pair of oxen
ever sold were completely covered with lice. DIR.
Cutting said 1 read a letter from of the prin-
some years, and from localities in all years,
he latest cattle were very lousy.
L W. Winter Feeding sulphur never did any
good in removing lice for me. How can we free
trees from bark lice Wash thoroughly with
strong soapsuds in early spring and again
sometime in June Must be thoroughly done as by
the man at whom all the neighbors laugh because
50 particular. d. W. Choate: Can a man buy
commercial fertilizers and make it pay . DR.. Cut
ting: Try experiments and ascertain what each
piece wants then 90 ahead-can be done in no 9th
er way Had piece of Is acres, didn't cut more
than a two horse load From trial lands
adjacent thought that piece needed plaster; APP
piled 200 lbs per acre before fairly gone,
sowed some grass seed and narrowed with a sharp
toothed harrow. Results IA tons and 1900 lbs. hay
sold from that piece of land This year the
piece with fertilizer produced almost Is
tons. Not wide difference in the soil on the
same farm many suppose. Chemical analysis
is worthless the plant is the best chemist for the
f farmer. In France Germany and England, the
crops are five times as great as in the o. S In Vt
, they are greater than in any state in o. s.
j. X. Emerson l am and more satisfied
that don't know enough about business (;
that We have gone on blndly too long. AS the Dr.
has said, ought to make trials and then
l we can better do work.
Thursday AfteTnOOn.-Called To order by MI
Harvey in the chair. DR.. Cutting opened the SEES
2 sion with very interesting paper timber
supply. He apprehends in the future a
scarcity of timber occasiOned in a great measure
by the wantOn obstruction of our forests by the
q lumbermen spoke of timber percentage in the
. counties of Vt varying from Is per cent in Grand
Isle to 10 in Essex. Average for the state, 80 per
cent, only per cent higher than for the whole U.
S. also of the before the last legislature pro
hibiting the use OF barbed wire fence, and would
= ask what was to be the fence in % years from
He explained the advantages of forests in procur-
, ing an even rainfall He very succinctly replied
to several questions put evidently for testing
his knowledge than for the increased information
The principle subject for discussion during the
meeting fertilization. The best methods of
applying stable manure No general rule could
be laid down, a light sandy soil pillow under; on
a heavier soil, keep near the surface possible
j and have it well mixed with soil. Wet land pays
= for drainage often best lands our farms. Put
the bitches where the water is you can't force the
water in such cases. Never leave manure in heaps
Il to dry. Better be spread ON the snow. There is
no particular danger from evaporation washing
away with the melting snow opinions differed as
= to this One had cleared field of brakes and
enriched it at the time by fencing off into acre
pieces digging short trench partially filling with
b corn, then turning in hogs. They completely re-
d moved the brakes. The piece was then narrowed
and then seeded down. DR.. Cutting had a steep
4 hill side covered with weeds couldn't be plowed
q moved and burnt the weeds, then sowed clover
J, men raked it in. First year nothing but weeds
the five succeeding a good crop. J. r. EMERSON
said the potash many used didn't prove as they
; expected. great many used 200 lbs. to the acre
Ashbel Martin used 1t on good results also
r, old pasture broke up sowed to grain better
7, results. Dr. Cutting said lump OF potash inch
= in diameter will not only not furnish any nutrl
ment but will Kill every root within SIX inches Of
it, o. NJ. Iinkham said all fertilizers are equally
cheap if bought for what they are worth.
- [Our columns are 50 crowded We are Obliged tc
y abridge the remainder Of the report, leaving ou
. Gov Farnham's speech altogetherl