Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1882-03-01
ia, mers' Meeting at Cambridge.

TIE meeting Of The board of agriculture
for this place was held on Tuesday and
Wednesday, Febru Try 2lSt and 22d.
At II O'Clock. forenoon, of the first day,
the merting was calle.l to order hg STr.
Good win. when Henry Smile. Esd was
elected chairman :lnd Judge Griswold see
Tc;arv
"l'bc renovation Of pastures" was first
taken up, T. r. T1wle le ,ding in the dis
cuSSion, and was followed by Il consider able
numbrr of tho turner's pres Mt, who ap.
pearci to be DEEPLY Interested in the SUI
jGcl.
Mr. AIelcndy stated ,hii a few years
since he thought il wolll !e better 10 go
west rather than undertake To improve our
rough Vermont f,rms, hut short expert
cnce in Nebraska convinced hIiu Of his
error and Of our home advantages. He is
Of opinion that some Of Lur hill pastures
might be benefited by the Keeping Of sheep.
Finds that plaster produces god effect in
this part Of the state. He would harrow
rough pastures in spring instead Of plow
ing. Believes in feeding pretty closely
most of the SEASON and In using s0ilnG
crops in the fall.
The chairman stated that the pastures in
Cambridge do not produce nearly a~ well
as formerly, but the character Of the land
is of such rs not to W Il ,sdm;l of powing
Dairying is principally followed here. and
the pastures have ieen robbed by this pio
cess ami he advised returning again in
some measure to sheep raising Wunld
keep half sheep and the remainder cattle,
Is troubled very much with brakes and
does not know What to do with them. iIe
does not find much benefit from moving
them
MIR. MeIondy is OF opinion that the con
tnued keeping uf dairies has tended to
deteriorae the pastures. Bras@s aru III"
greatest pest we have to deal with. If
powed or narrowed, fertilizers must be
used on such land, or grass seed will no
amount to much if sown
M. Cady stated that from his experience
the only way 10 destroy brakes is to plow
the land on which they grrw. II there is
not manure to use for this purpose let tho
land lie inllow. or SOW and plow under
buckwhrat.
Mr.. Wilcox is in favor tf blowing lun-
down pastures wherever possible. and fom
his experience finds that land usually con
sdered too rough to plow can be success
fully treated. Some courage it is true is
needed for this work. but it will pay.
Mr.. Goodwin said that pastures where
sheep have been kept for fifty years or
more in his part of the state have deterior-
ated, although not to that extent as Is the
case where cows are kept The phosphates
have been removed and should be return
ed, Using ashes and bone in some form.
Would pasture heavily and make good any
deficiency in the form of green crops and
grain.
Mr.. Cady advised the keeping Of mere
oxen on the farm, employing them for the
Improvement of the same.
Mr.. Goodwin explained the system of
plat fertilization, and advised f'nmcrs 10
test it for themselves.
After some further discussion the meet
ing adjourned until afternoon.
TUESDAY AFTERNOON.
Oncoming together the first inject taken
up was the "Wants Of farmers" by the
chairman, Mr.. Smile. Although farmers
may be fairly we'll supplied with reading
matter, yet more attention should be paid
to that which more particularly applies tc
his own occupation. One great wan. On
the farm is moro manure and Il better
understanding of how to apply it. There
is constant drain from the farm in III,
form Of products. and if suiticicn, manure
cannot be manufactured on the premises
spLcal fertilizers should DO employed
More teams of horses or oxen should bi
used if tho greatest profit is expected
| Thoro i, pppA nf cDnial nlx mi N nu
of more business talent. He spoke a gcUt
word for agricultural organizations, wheth
er of farmers clubs, oranges. botrls o
agriculture, or whatever is calculated t,
bring the farmer up to the faithful pcr!or
nance OF the duties and labors devo vim!
upon him.
At the conclusion OF this PAPER Mr.
Goodwin followed in comncndilion q
points brought out hy MIR Smile, an,
urged the necessity oil more practlcl
form Of education for cur children. Under
standing that there is II tarmers' club il
cambridge, he advised Il faithful attend
anco upon the meetings as of the creates
Importance.
Mr.. Melenay spoke ia favor Of farmers
organlzatons and the benefit that Nay
derived from faithful attendance upo
the meetings of the same.
Mr. worse s'.teu ''i'I l.. 'ai lne!S ""nI' '
DC pei9ulru oy 'nosG ''''tn h'eetih9s tne,
must 10 "ni'ns "'u 'e'vy 10 tnNo Ilo!'
an' s neg esns, anc,nsettes ai,S, 'e y greatly
Mr. Wilcox spoke of the necessity of
better knowledge OF the market reports. u
thoSe FARMERS afe .i'e most successiul WIN
are wen posteu II, Cn's uIfec,lon. ne aus
maue some cAcelIen' re'h"'Ss IN '"VoF
farmers meetings.
Mr. Davis spoke o' isrnefs c'uns an
organizations rs mcs' checiive ior eHucA
tlonai purposes ana OF 'be ontles OF par
EMS IN relatlon 10 Iho common sohoo's
our state FARMERS SHOULD co'operat
more IN "nat SO nearly concerns tnem al
ana no mcaps ior tn's purpose VIII u
iouhd more ehee'u"i VnSn inc farmer:
cluo' nc ureeu greater atteht'oh 70 IN
opportunities alreauy possessed, Hnd hei
10 make vermont seii'sus,a'h'hS ana NOR
ih1epenHen! OF me Yves. 'nan now
Mr. "liliam Meienuy ne'leVes mat 4
farmers may oe slccessiui instead OF Icy
rs Is inc case IN soue OF the other occnp'
t'ons OF PROFESSIONS; o"' regrets 'he war
oil interest ihat ~ 100 o''eh observed !
agricultural meetings.