The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1886-11-24
agricultural.
T. H. HOSklNS, M. D., Editor,
Newport, Vermont.
The Vermont Report.

Report Gust issued from the WATCH
MAN press) is at hand. In its preparation
Secretary Cutting has done excellent
work, and the papers of his co-laborers
are of a very practical and generally
meritorious character. Driven to ex-
tremties for points of criticism, we
might say on the one hand that we do
not admire the illustrated advertise
ment at the beginning (though the Fay
currant is an excellent fruit, and that
we do most highly prize the full and
carefully prepared Index at the end.
In this last particular DR. Cutting has
set an example to many other secretar-
les, whose reports are practically al
most useless for reference, because
there is no way of knowing what they
contain, or of finding something we
know to be in them, without the loss of
much valuable time. In fact the whole
get-up of this report, quite as much as
its contents, illustrates the value of eX-
perience in position of this kind, and
the wisdom, when we get a good sec
rotary, of keeping him as long as he
will stay
The very great excellence Of the
Connecticut Report is due to the long
continuance of Secretary Gold in office,
perhaps nearly as much as to his high
qualifications; and if the reports of
another New England state equally
show the folly of continuing lazy and
incompetent officer long in place, this
is no argument against the retention of
so good one as DR.. Cutting proves
himself to be. There has been far too
much building up and tearing down in
connection with the Vermont Board
AS at present organized it shows itself
capable of effective work and of increas-
ing usefulness, and we trust that there
is to be no more meddlesome legisla-
ton or executive interference in con-
nection with its membership, or its
work. When changes are to be made
in the former, they should be as well
considered as is the case of other i'm
portant public positions. Some gov
errors have seemed to think that any
kind of man is good enough for a
member of the board of agriculture,
provided he will keep his mouth shut
about the agricultural college.
No agricultural board in the country
has shown such steady industry, or
such an earnest desire to make its
work useful to every part of the state,
as ours. In fact it originated the prac-
tice of holding institutes freely all over
the state, instead of one or two dull and
dignified meetings in some central city
or village. In this Vermont showed
her leading characteristic, which caused
Bismarck to note her as the most thor
oughly democratic community in the
world. So manifest an improvement
forced itself upon the notice of the
farmers of other states and now all the
New England boards have followed
Vermont's example. That the work of
our board has not been inferior to that
of the far more richly endowed and
seemingly at home better appreciated
boards in other states. the series of
its reports amply exhibit. Yet they do
not show 1.-THE of the real work, nor
the best part of the work, which has
consisted in the discussions and prac-
teal short talks which characterize
every meeting and, much more than
the labored papers, tended to arouse
practical interest in improved farming,
and to stimulate all the farmers who
attend the meetings to improve their
ways and methods. There is not a
single competent observer who would
not readily agree that the work done
by our board of agriculture and our
dairyman's association, in setting new
methods, and discussing improved pro-
cesses, before the farming communities
of the state, has brought many dollars
of profit to our people for every mill
expended. Every class, therefore,
which prospers when the farmers pros
per, (and this includes all but the rum
sellers and the political bummers), are
interested in maintaining our agricul.
tural organizations in their fullest
activity and efficiency. 1t is strange
fact, however, that the two have never
cordially agreed, and that the two sue
cessive secretaries of the dairymen's
association have been the most active
if not the only active men, in efforts tC
discontinue the board. This illustrates
a Vermont failing, as much as thei
joint benefits illustrate a merit. Yer
mont is too small; it has never seemed
big enough for two of anything, how
ever good. But as we cannot enlarge
our boundaries, suppose we try to en-
large our souls, by taking pattern afte
Abraham in his generous dealings wit
his erratic kinsman, Lot.
We shall not take up much space b.
noting the contents of this report, be
cause probably every reader who care