The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1886-10-29

1850. 1898! :" 4s,5O6
l8S2......73,O6S 4" 47,772
1884. .72,744 476O7
1885. ...n,Ss7 4s625
1t will be noted that while probably
twenty per cent. of the children of school,
age are not enrolled in the public schools
but from sixty-three to sixty-five pei
cent. Of those enrolled are constant at
PENDANTS upon school.
Our revenue for common school pur.
poses for the year 1866 was 1921 1902
It is not this large sum of money annu-
ally devoted to this object that gives it
its chief Importance.
Our great concern Is, or should be, to
see that it is well expended, and for the
best good of all our youth. That such
is not the case now all statistics clearly
demonstrate, and all men admit. There
is every natural reason why the stand
ard common school edcatiOn among the
young of this State should be far above
that of most of our sister states Of the
North and West. The homogeneousness
of our people invites it. The annual eX-
penditure warrants it. 1t is the BIRTH
right of every child to share evenly with
his fellows in this outlay.
The public is pledged to the care of
the morals and the mind of every child
alike at its birth.
There is no trust which the general
law executes so inequitably and made
quately as that relating to the education
of the young
The law Of the last General Assembly
submitting the question of the adoption
of the town system of schools to vote
of the people at the annual town meet
ings in 1885 and 1886 was acted on by
most of the towns. while several did not
vote upon it. Sixteen towns Onlv voted
to adopt the town system; all others
which voted OH the question voted against
it; seventeen towns had previously adopt
ed the same. and the town of Norton
organized with it., so that we have thir-
ty-fOur towns in the State in which this
system is in operation.
The general inaction Of the voters of
the State upon this vital school question
refers it back to the representative wis
dom of the General Assembly. The
proportion of the voters who gave their
voice on this question stands related to
their vote for Governor very closely as
to 3.
That something should be accomplish
ed at this session to improve our methods
in the bestOwal of these moneys and in
the more equable diffusion of education
among our children through the schools,
seems almost necessity. What it should
be your wisdom will rightly determine.
BOARD OF AGRICULTURE.
The work of this Board has been de-
voted mainly to the holding of institutes
the Counties of the State, in
connection with the various industri-
al, dairymen's and other agricultural as
sociations, and in featuring upon and
discussing with the practical farmers of
the State, all subjects of agricultural in
terest.
These meetings have grown in interest
from year to year. In the winter of
1856 sixty-four meetings were held
of two days each. Over nine
addresses have been given, and
much general discussion has followed.
Professor Cook. of the State Agricul-
tural College-joining the Board at the
expense of the College, to lecture upon
fertilizers and agricultural chemistry
has been of great service to this interest.
1t has been my privilege to attend
few of these meetings, and have been
impressed with the zeal, practical learn
ing and advanced views of the gentle
men of the Board upon the specialties
them for discussion, as well as
with the interest enkindled by their pres
ence among the many farmers who join
them in their valuable work.
A large edition of the report of the
Board should be provid' d for, and
more general distribution had. The
question treated of in this report having
special reference to the products and
soils of our latitude and longitude, their
here gives the reports local
value not to be found in general treatise
on kindred subjects.
The law relating to the analyses of
fertilizers or the provisions for defray-
ing the expense Of the same is made
quate to the end sought to be attained.
The results of analyses do not get to the
of the farmers of the State
In season for their spring purchase of
fertilizers. This delay has been the
cause of much complaint. The sum APP
propriated to defray the expense of these
analyses should be reasonable, and the
constituent parts and percentages of
each should be officially announced
through the press by day fixed by law,
before the approach of spring.
Cognate to this subject, call your at
IGNITION to the law relating to the infec-
.ious diseases of cattle. In the winter
IF lSS4-5 a destructive cattle disease
broke out In a herd in Cambridge, carry
ny off dozen or more of the nerd in a
'ew DAYS. I was applied to by the local