The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1886-02-03
Farmers Meeting at Wells River.

A farmers institute was held at the above
named place last week Wednesday and
Thursday. The meeting was opened We'd
nesday afternoon by the choice of Rev. e. j.
Ranslow as chairman After prayer, M. w.
Davis made some remarks upon the " Edu-
cation of the Farmer" Our law provides
for the education of children of school age,
but after they reach the age of eighteen
years there is no law compelling further
study or investigation; and yet it is impera-
tive that the farmer, as well as all in the pro-
fessions, should advance. He must not shut
his ears against new ideas or be afraid to
practice them. If his father used the hoe to
plant corn, he must not be afraid of the
planter; # his father kept weeds down with
pillow and hoe, he must accept the harrow
instead as requiring less labor for better
crops. More time should be given to the
Improvement of the mind. The basis of all
advancement is education, and from it
springs every advance in agriculture. The
man who fails to realize this fact is the one
who gets into a rut and is content to drag on
without any prospect of getting out. He
cannot advance. The discussion which fol-
lowed was spirited and interesting.
In the evening Hon. f. ID. Douglass of
Whiting delivered a lecture. He said that
cheaper transportation from the West and
western competition has made low prices
for farm products, and there is a general de-
preston But farmers must meet it by
planting more and sowing more grain. This
more improved machinery. He uses the
sulky pillow, cuts his corn and grain with
the reaper and husks it with horse power
husker at great saving of expense. He adj
vocated contrasting as a very profitable
line of farming. He spoke for an hour and
half and enjoyed the close attention of his
audience. This was followed by discussion
Thursday morning the meeting was opened
by A. E. Perkins of Pomfret who spoke
upon "The Care of Farm Stock" His
recommendations were good, but it was ap-
parent he was never intended for public
speaker, and so much that was desirable
was lost by the roundabout way he had of
getting at it that his lecture, though good
was not appreciated. The discussion led by
Professor Cooke of Burlington, who has a
happy faculty of being fully understood, was
appreciated
In the afternoon Professor Cooke gave
lecture upon " Chemistry in Farming"
He remarked that the result of chemical ex-
pertinent has shown that three things
which can be supplied by the farmer are
often wanting in the soil-nitrogen, phos-
phoric acid and potash. One, two or all of
these are required where land does not pro-
duce as it ought, and the effect, if applied
judiciously, is to give the farmer a much
greater profit from the cultivation Of his
soil Chemical analysis shows that the
liquid portion of manure contains much
more fertilizing power than the solids, and
hence it should be saved. Experiment has
shown that the result is better by com bining
the liquid and solid, and hence an absorb
ent becomes necessary to use in the stables.
Muck is best, but dry dirt, or even sawdust,
can be used. 1t is always best to distribute
manure in the winter season or early spring
and spread it just where it is to be used,
thus saving labor and obtaining better re-
suits. There is no danger of evaporation
and but little of washington fact none, I'M
less it is carried of by freshet. His remarks
were listened to with closest attention and
the discussion showed deep interest in the
subject.
The evening exercises were conducted by
Secretary Cutting. His address was upon
Farm Experiments" He said that thought
and experiment go before as an advance
to all the farmers labor, remarking that he
might properly manure his land, neither too
little nor too much, but in such way as to
get the best possible crops from the smallest
possible outlay. This can only be done by
asking the plant, through plot experiment,
what is needed. The plant tells no lies and
its answer should be needed. Stable ma
nure was not perfect fertilizer; much of it
was lost and many crops lodged by trying
to get the desired crop production from the
use of barn manure alone. The best crops
stand erect; it is poor crops that lodge.
That dark color, so desired by many farm
ers in the early part of the season, is a
danger, and shows that lodged crops and
disappointment in harvest is sure to follow.
Beware of such; use only sufficient amount
| OF stable manure to get the necessary am
mOnia, and then use potash, bone-meal or
dissolved bone to perfect the crop. The
amount required is small and need not be
fertilized and much better crops secured
The lecture was well received. The insti
tute, which was profitable one, closed with
a lively discussion.