The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1885-03-18

best of anything always sells. 1t is always
poor goods that are left on stagnant
market. He said as of butter so of all
operations on the farm. The farmer ought
never to be satisfied until he could get the
best crop of grass, the best grain and the
best and largest crops of all he cultivates
AT the close of the address questions were
asked about fertilizers, etc. The doctor
said no one could tell the farmers of Waits
field what their soil needed. That every
farmer must ascertain for himself by eX-
periments, which every one must try for
themselves, if they would be sure of results
on their own land, and by keeping records
of weight and measures they would find
such to be invaluable. In them would be
found success. The meeting adjourned
from twelve o'clock until half-past two to
give all chance to attend the funeral of Mr..
III. Fullerton.
TUESDAY AFTERNOON.
The meeting came to order at half-past
two, and DR.. Cutting gave an address upon
The Manufacture of Maple Sugar" He
said botanists had found about sixty va
rieties of the maple, but only three varieties
produced sap in sufficient amount for sugar
making. While there were usually one
hundred fifty and two hundred upon an
acre, five hundred were possible, and the
value of sugar-orchards was much greater
than was supposed. Many man would
sell his sugar-orchard for 800 per acre. The
DTOuuCb Vi ii SlnSlt year IllRnb, ldNOI-
able circumstances, buy the land at six
pounds to a tree, selling for only ten cents,
or sixty cents per tree, it would when two
hundred trees were on an acre, sell for S120
Three pounds is small yield, and yet that
would be $50. The work for crop of sugar
is not much, If any, greater than the labor
for any other crop. Hence he would pro-
tect the sugar-orchards. That some did not
tap them was no reason why they should be
cut down. Some do not raise corn, yet who
would destroy the corn If it grew? But the
maple had another mission. If we would
preserve our rainfall we must preserve our
| forests, and let us preserve the most useful
| portions. He then spoke of boiling and
different devices, and said that the secret of
| the whole matter was to get the sap from
the tree into sugar in the shortest possible
| time. In relation to the sugar sand or ma
! latis of lime he directed them to hurry the
process so that the malic acid would not
| mite with the lime as it only united in a
certain part of the process. If it united and
made the sand, let that settle, if in molasses,
and get it out, but never try to get all pos
sible, but try to make the least possible.
Rapid boiling allowed less to unite than
| slow boiling. He commended but one
and one-half inches of sap in the pan for
rapid boiling as less fire would heat it, and
it was, as he believed best. Others be-
all but one concluded that the shallow
method was best. Prices and marketing
were discussed. Some thought as strong
dirty sugar would sell, some should be al
lowed to make it and obige those who
liked strong sugar The doctor thought
that all ought to improve, and as they i'm
proved the sugar the purchasers tastes
would improve. The meeting then adj
journed until evening.
WEDNESDAY.
The subjects for discussion were Frui
Raising" by Henry Lane of Cornwall
Wastes of the Farm" by f. ID. Douglas
of Whiting: " The Raising and Feeding o
Cattle and Sheep" by Henry Lane of Corn
wall, with general discussions nterspersed
We regret that we have not a comprehen
sive report of what was said at these dis
customs. The subjects were, however, il
the MAN, the same as at the Waterbur.
meetings, to the report of which reference
is made
These meetings were very fully attended
the farmers of Mad river valley invariabl
coming out in force to hear and to partici
pate themselves in the discussions, an
elicit information by numerous and pert
nent questions. Farming is intelligent
and thriftily followed in this valley. If tn
state at large were abreast of this con
munity, there would be no ground for MI
Douglass gloomy view of the future of as
riculture in Vermont.