Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1886-03-05
THE FARMERS INSTITUTE AT ADDISON.

number present Thursday, Feb Is, at
10 80 a. m, at the meetings held ut Addi-
son under the auspices of the State board
of agriculture.
When the meeting was called to order
but two of the board were present: Hon.
Henry Lane of Cornwall and +. ID. Doug
las of Whiting.
Hon. c. W. Read was chosen to pre-
side over the meetings, and after few
remarks, called on II. c. Goodale for the
first speech of the session. His remarks
on General Information took a wide
range and showed the speaker had given
much thought to his subject He adj
vanced ideas on the profit of raising fruit
on clay soil, which provoked spirited
and interesting discussion.
The afternoon was devoted to papers
on "Merino Sheep" by Lyman Clark of
Addison, who is one of the most success
full breeders of the fine woods, and being
so conversant with his subject and well
informed in regard to the merits of the
different breeds of our own as well rs
foreign countries, his paper was one of
unusual interest.
Mr.. Clark was followed by Henry Lane,
whose subject was "Fine Wool Sheep In
dustry." His paper was largely statis-
teal one, giving many facts regarding
the progress of sheep culture i'll YER
mont.
The discussion participated in after
ward by f. S. Wright, Lyman Clark, IL.
S. Jackman, Benz. Hayward and others,
i'm regard to the respective merits of fine
and coarse wool sheep, was one of deep
interest.
In the evening the town hall would hard
" accommodate the many present, adj
Joining towns being well represented.
The meeting was opened by an address
of welcome by Rector Gage, of which the
following is an extract: Il count my
self happy and honored in being the one
selected to welcome the board of agricul-
turc to Addison. You are the source and
fountain of knowledge and learning on
the great subjects of farming industries,
and we expect to be refreshed and sup
piled with the Overlooking of that foun-
tain. Our hearts and minds are with you
to receive and drink in all you can say
to us on the subject of agricultural inn
provements, and it is our intention to
pump you dry
After song of welcome by double
quartet choir, he was replied to by MIR.
Lane. who thanked him and the people
of Addison. in behalf of the board, for
the kind welcome which they received.
The address of the evening was given
by Hon. NJ. W. Davis of Westminster,
whose subject was WASTES on the
Farm
Mr.. Davis is very pleasant speaker.
The following is a short abstract of his
remarks: The time is now at hand when
the Vermont farmer must make every
product count. In the march of civiliZa-
ton. in the wake of progressive agricul-
ture. the same Vermont farmer has been
too unmindful of his soil and his tlocks.
Supinely has he lain until deterorated
soil and Western competition have bound
him more or less hand and foot; but the
sooner he awakes from this state of leth-
argy, the better. If he intends to raise
cattle for beef, he must select that breed
which will make the most beef at the
least cost. If he wants butter or cheese,
he must select the breed that will make
the most and best of each; same with
milk, wool, mutton and pork. One thing
he certainly does not want 10 do, and
that is to waste his time with breed
that claims beef, butter and milk COM
bined. at Il loss all around. The special
list in times like these will ruin: ",Jack at
all trades and master at none is sure to
come to sad end" Vermont agricul-
ture has but two or three leading indus
tries that the majority can pursue with
any degree of livelihood. The two prin-
cipals are sheep industry and dairy; the
former reached fame through the eli
mate, soil, intelligence and skill of the
Vermonters that hangs uppermost in the
annals of worldwide fame. The latter
industry is of vast Importance, and ever
has been and ever will be to the human
family; never will be supplanted by any
article of diet, staple or luXuriant as a
complete substitute, and as Vermont
soil and climate with the Intelligence of
her people. if but intensely directed, is
calculated too, and can produce, finer
specimens from the dairy than any other
location, and to this highest round in the
ladder every lover of the dairy should as
pire to reach. The dairy may be divided
into three branches, milk, butter and
cheese. Now there are many requisites
that must be adhered to, or failure is the
result. First-the man, his adaptation.
and his family; IA love and fitness for the
business. SecOnd-the farm must be
adapted, carrying sweet, succulent gras-
ses, ever pure, and plenty of water.
Once it was urged that all depended up