Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1883-02-28
Middlesex Meeting.

Middlesex Meeting.
The state board of agriculture, by
Invitation of some of the prominen
| farmers of Middlesex, decided to hold a
two days meeting there last week. The
various members of the board being
engaged at other places only +. r
| Pember, of Wells, was present las
Wednesday afternoon when the meeting
opened in the Methodist house. There
was good representation OF farmers from
Middlesex, Moretown, Waitsfield, Berlin
and Waterbury. Mr.. Pember called the
meeting to order, and Hon. James II
Holden, of Middlesex, was appointed
chairman. After expressing his thanks
for the honor conferred on him, he called
on w. H. Chaplin, of Middlesex, to make
Q few remarks in the form of an address
OF welcome to the board.
Mr.. Chaplin said that in as much as this
was the first meeting of the board in town
it was perhaps fitting that some word of
welcome be addressed TO its members
When the buds start next spring, it will
be one hundred years since the first
settlement of the town, and in starting on
the second century it was self evident
fact that if the agricultural interests ol
Middlesex would keep abreast of the
times, there must be more agricultural
knowledge among the farmers; knowledge
of the soil, what it needed to keep it up,
and how to till it mole successfully, how
| to breed animals and what kinds, and also
| to have instruction in the political econo-
my OF the nation, whether the farmers did
or did not want II reduction IN the tariff,
subject which is at present agitating the
country by the debate before congress,
especially on sugar. On these and ali
| kindred subjects relating TO the general
| welfare of tue agriculturalist, those men
who form the bone and snew of the
country. there is need of more knowledge,
and it is for the purpose of obtaining this
| that these meetings are held. He then
rendered O the members of the board, a
hearty welcome; TO its president, Gov.
Barstow, one of the long line of farmer
governors which had gained for Vermont
the reputation of being the best governed
state in the union; to Rev. II. M. Buck
ham, the Christian soldier in the cause OF
education; to Secretary Cutting, the
indefatgable worker in the interest OF
| agriculture, and TO all the members of the
board generally. At the close of the
remarks of Mr.. Chaplin, the chairman
introduced E. r. Pember, Of Wells, who
was advertised to speak on the subject of
milk.
Mr.. Pember spoke briefly in explanation
of why he was the only member of the
board present. The need Of agriculture
at present was more skill, more know
edge; fifty years ago when the soil had
just been stripped of its virgin forests, and
was rich in all that was necessary for
plant growth, there was no need of
thinking about what to do to make better
crops. Then there were no such methods
of transportation as are now in use.
Muscle was now the principle criterion of
mans success; but things have changed /;
steam has become the draft horse of the
world, and has opened an unlimited COM
petition, and the soil has become sick,
needing some element of plant growth to
bring it up to its former standard, and
the only way for the farmers is to expert,
ment with their land and find Just what
element is needed. The situation OF the
country at the present time, because of
i
for this class of meetings. that farmers
may get together and exchange views,
and through the beard obtain in one
section the benefit of the experiments and
earnings of another.
After this prelude he took up the subject
of milk, which he said was, in its pure
state, a perfect food for man or beast,
and was the only one which would alone
support life from the cradle to the grave.
He then gave the component parts of
pure milk, as shown by analysis, but said
many cows varied in the quality of their
product, it being dependent very much on
the feeding and care which they received.
To preserve standard and even quality
of milk. it should be taken from the COW
at periods of not over II hours, as after
that it deteriorates in quality. He gave a
full description of the butter granules,
and the manner of their formation and
separation, which was very able and
interesting. The distinguishing points
between the Jersey, Holstein and Ayrshire
breeds of cows was the difference in the
size of the butter granules; those of the
Jersey are the largest, the Holstein small
est, and the Ayrshire are irregular in size.
Some time was then spent on the subject
of how to increase the quantity and better
the quality of milk. with some illustrations
of the amount given by various cows, and
the butter made therefrom; and in con-
nection with that subject he wished to
emphasize the necessity of good care and
regular feeding, cleanliness IN the milking
and churniag, and in every department
of the business; especially should care be
taken TO prevent the milk and cream from
being contaminated by odors from the
stable, the cook room, or elsewhere, Is
milk was very great absorbent of odors,
and they passed into and injured the
butter. His remarks were listened to
with marked attention throughout, and
were followed by lively discussion, first
on how to ventilale barn stables and
manure cellars, the prevailing idea from
the experience of several parties being
that ventilator extending from the roof
to the bottom OF the cellar was the best
and only true method The different
methods of setting milk, and the proper
temperature for cream, that it should
churn quickly, was discussed by Messrs,
Russell Sawyer of Moretown, j. S.
Wheeler and L. p. Wheeler of Waterbury
Centre, Mr. Jones of Waitsield j. N.
Perrin of Berlin, and w. IL Chaplin of
Middlesex. The conclusion arrived at
was that the cream from the milk of COWS
long in milk, as a rule, required more
churning than that from new mich cows,
and that considerable depended on the
breed of cows kept; the only test for
temperature was by experiment. At me
close of the discussion an adjournment
was had until 7: 80 p. NJ, when Mr.. Davis
of Westminster spoke on ''What farmers
need look after." He pointed out vast
number of little things about the farm
where there was waste, that by being
looked after could be saved, and the farm
made to pay instead of being burden,
with no inducement for the youth to
remain on them. First the farmer should
be adapted TO and love his business; if
he does not, then better drop it and take
up something he did fancy. There is not
brain power enough used in the choosing
Of calling for the children and in the
management of that occupation after it is
chosen. The children should be educated
practically, and everything done to make
home on the farm pleasant, by looking
after the llttl4 comforts and beauties.
Whv are 40 many farms vocatedp Dna