The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1883-11-07
Maine Agricultural Report.

We are indebted to Secretary Gilbert
for copy of his report for 1882. 1t is a
handsome volume of four hundred and
eighty-six pages, being the first in four
years to resume the appearance of the
long series of these admirable publica-
tions since 1855. The greenback poll
ticians who have mainly ruled Maine for
the past four years signalized their ad-
vent to power by cutting off or cutting
down all appropriations for the promotion
of industry, in the name of economy.
This is the way politicians always do.
They never reduce their own salaries, but
try to make capital by reducing or cut
ting off the small sums allotted to the pro-
motion of useful arts. Our own legisla-
ture has not been guiltless in this respect,
and in Massachusetts the first thing the
legislature does when scared by the cry
for economy is to cut off the appropriation
for the agricultural college. They think
the farmers are too ignorant and indiffer.
emit to care, and it seems often as though
they were. We are a Greenbacker I"
ourself, to the extent of believing that
there is no sense in, having two kinds -ef
paper money, and that the greenbacks
cost the people less than the national
bank notes; but we must say the
greenback party was run by the big
gest fools that were ever in politics in
Americs,-and that is saying good deal,
we are well aware.
Mr.. Gilbert's report is eminently prac.
teal in every part, and shows that he is a
worthy successor of his eminent predeces-
sors, Goodale and Boardman. He is do
ing everything he can to stimulate the
dairy interest in Maine, (Which is nat
urally as much dairy state as vermont)
and a large part of this report is devoted
to this subject. Mr.. Gilbert is himself a
dairyman whose butter always brings the
top of the market. He is also an extern.
sive fruit-grower whose apples, when sent
to market, are found to be frst-class all
through the barrel. This is the kind of
men to put in the lead. Maine, like Con.
necticut, (Which has had one of its lead
ing dairymen and fruitgrowers in the
secretaryship of its agricultural board
from the start), believes that there is nc
need of going outside of agriculture TO,
I'LL To- IL
The subject of fertilization and fertil
izers has prominent place in this report
and this also is handled with ability or
the practical side, both as regards home
made and commercial manures. The
agricultural college of Maine, with an en-
dowment just equal to that of Vernon
(Which we have been asked to believe, fo
more than dozen years, is entirely in
adequate to giving any agricultural O.
other industrial Instruction., has loni
been doing good work and sending GU
well equipped students both from its agri
cultural and its mechanical departments
Its teachers contribute to the report man,
valuable articles upon several subjects
Finally, there is embodied in, or annexe'
to,this agric ultural report the special re
port Of the Maine State Pathological Sc
ciety, body of faithful men whose Ia
bors have given such an impetus to frui
growing in that state as is fast maxim
her apple exports great, as it is a raj
idly increasing, factor in her prosperity
Vermont has something to learn from he
sister state in this.