Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1882-01-25

Mr. Whitney moved that committee Of
three he chosen to petition the next legis-
lature. in behalf Of the association. for the
passage Of law appointing \ state chem.
ist, among whose duties should be that Of
analvzing fertilizers. and then protect the
farmers against fraud.
Mr.. Sprague seconded the motion.
1t was carried. and the association chose
Mr. Whitney, Mr.. Tinkham and President
Mason
The thanks of the association were ten
dered TO Professor Sabin.
On motion of Mr.. Sprsgne the chair
appointed Henry Clark Of Rutland, Mr..
Whitney and Mr.. Aaron Loveland COM
mittee 10 investigate the charges which
Mr. o. S Bliss of Georgia made against
Mr.. Sprague last summer.
Mr.. Sprague said that he desired the
fullest and most public investigation, and
he wanted it made at once and reported
upon before Thursday noon.
F. ID Curtis of Syracuse, the same old
party who used the association last winter
as Il vehicle to advertise the Syracu-e salt,
sent a paper on breeding. which was read
by Secretary Bliss. 1t was of no particu-
lar value, though It advocated careful
selection Of sire especially in breeding,
hut said that The progeny could no more
BE- better than the parents than the stream
could rise above the fountain, which causes
the query. How then are we to uaproue?
The discussion which followed was m
interesting one, turning mainly on in-and-
in breeding.
Mr.. Walker of Springfield asked whether
il resulted in barTenness.
Mr.. Bliss said il was not conclusivply
shown. but was rather the result of high
feeding.
Mr.. Tinkham gave instances In his own
stock where in. eedng had resulted in
deformity and deterioration.
Mr.. Cheever cited M my instances eff in.
breeding with no apparent ill results, ami
rhought that the matter was not settled
beyond doubt.
Mr.. Sprague said that his experience in
in-breeding pure blooded fowls had been
disastrous, and had destroyed the symme-
try of the birds. He believed, too, that il
could be INDUCED in too much. So of
pigs. After a long in-breedng they dete
riorated very much The Merlno sheep
breeders never bred inland in, but EMPLOY
ed a iudicious system OF crosses, which
| had produced the finest sheep IN the wor Id.
| rhe excellence of herds dependei great
Ieal upon the soil and elm tie. Vermont
would ever be the breeding ground OF stock
| Merino sheep, and the great reason there
Tor was the peculiar adaptation of soil and
clmele TO their production.
The association then adjourned.
EVENING MEETING.
| Two meetings were neld in the evening
-one in room NJ. IL of the Blrlwrlt
| ilJuse. where the committee OF investiga.
ton sat in secret, with closed do rs, AMI
heard the statements Of Colonel Sprague,
| President Mason, Vice Presidents Wood
md McAIlisler a.d Secretary Bliss The
hearing was then adjourned until 5o'clock
Thursday morning.
| In the hall some twenty gentlemen
gathered AT o'clock and waited patiently
until $40. when Vice President Wool
,ppeared and called them 10 order. He
introduced Mr.. A. w. Cheevtr, the ayr
cultural editor OF the New England Farm
er, who had prepare II paper on the utiI
z,lion of skinned milk us (, Cd.
On motion of Mr.. Tnknlm hr. Cheever
was requested 10 defer The reading uf the
paper until there should be Il larger audi
unce
Mr. Cheever, instead, read communi
cation from Mr.. Thomas Whitaker OF
Necdham, who is prevented by sickness
rom attending the meeting
Mr.. Whitaker wiole in praise Of skim
ned milk as u fattener of pigs, and also
recommended mixture of corn and cob,
and SKINNED milk as valuable food for
| cattle
A discussion ensued, in which Mr.. Z, B.
| Douglass of Shoreham and others ptrtici-
pnted, and all the speakers except Mr.. S.
S. Pierce of Clarendon thought highly OF
| SKINNED milk and corn cohs.
Mr.. Cheever cited DR.. Nichols Of the
Journal OF Chemistry, who had said that
!ood. sound eastern corn and cob, ground
| fine, was worth rs much AS the poorer
lass Of western corn that came east.
Mr.. Wood and all The other officers OF
! he association beng obliged to attend the
bearing before the nv estlgatlng commit
tee, Col. John B Mead of Randolph Wa
elected chairman. and presided durne the
evening in very happy manner.
THURSDAY MORNING
Major Henry f. Alvorcl of Houghton farm,