The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1889-01-23

y
thing seemed to favor it. The location,
the weather, the bright array of speak
ing talent, the large, intelligent and
good-natured audience, and the excel
lence and variety of the exhibit of but
ter, cheese and dairy apparatus-all
combined to make this good school
to learn in. Every moment of the
time was fully taken in instruction and
lively discussion. 1t was a misfortune
to have to be absent the first day and
miss the address on " Cheese-making,
by ID. NJ. Mcpherson of Canada, but it
was pleasure to hear him afterwards
on Foods" and the feeding and
manurial value of the same, by analysis
and figures.
The addresses of the second and
third days and the questions and an
swers were full of interest. Without
trying to go into the details of the sub
jects, | will try to give rough draft of
some of the strong points and charac-
teristics of some of the chief speakers
as it appeared to Transient Boarder.
First, we had George Aiken on " Root
culture" recommending the cultivation
of mangolds, or beets, for dairy feed,
claiming to raise some thirty-four tons
of beets to the acre, and that they were
more proftably raised than fodder-corn
or ensilage. Mr.. Aiken is foreman on
the Billings farm at Woodstock, is
fine specimen of the ScOtch-English
farmer-tall, straight, shrewd and sensi-
ble-a good speaker and a persistent
debater. His butter drew the grand
sweepstakes prize, which may be an
argument in favor of root-feeding,
Jersey cows and old-country careful
ness in many of the fine points of dairy
work Next we had practical demon
/ STATIONS of the Short oil test by " the
eminent John Gould of Ohio. !
don't claim to know a thing about the
test, and so will let that 90. can
make good soft soap, and know how to
use it in various ways, but | don't pro-
pose to 60 to making it out of milk Just
to see how much fat there is in it. No
doubt it can be done, but not many
farmers will do it. If one Yankee NAV
guess about another | will guess John
! Gould to be a regular live specimen of
the New England Yankee stock, taken
from the historic town of Guiford, VT,
and transplanted to the better soil of
northern Ohio, where he has developed
and broadened. In the prime of life,
and full of vim, vigor and volubility,
John is a hustler. Then Professor
Cooke showed the " Lactocrite - and
other milk tests. 1t has made me tired
to spell that word, and to whirl the
tarnal thing y, 900 revolutions minute
won't do it. Like as not she'd burst.
The common farmer can test his cows
by fair and square setting of the milk
and churning the cream about as well
as in any way. Then the - erators "
were exhibited by Professor McPher-
son. This process is said to be quite
important in cooling down the milk
in cheese-making. Mr., Mcpherson is a
man of good appearance and pleasant
and sensible speaker, with a slight for
eign accent.
The afternoon of the second day was
largely taken up in the election Of Of
ficers and in the discussion of various
affairs of the association. There was a
slight suspicion that the Board of
Agriculture coveted this office for one
of its members, but there is no founda-
lion for such an insinuation. There is
not a man on the board but would
rather even be elected to congress than
to have this presidency.
In the evening we had a rare treat in
the papers read by 7. S. Gold of
Connecticut and A. w. Cheever of
Massachusetts on " Education for the
Farmer" Mr.. Gold is veteran teacher.
and his views on the subject of educa-
ton for farmers boys ought to be read
by every family in the state. Although
throa- nd ho 70 az -
bright, clear and cogeut reasoner. Mr..
Cheever is too well and favorablv
known among New England farmers
to need any commentator. Careful,
honest and sound on most farm topics,
he is apt to be the favorte speaker
at any meeting of this kind. Some
shrewdness was shown in keeping the
best of the wine for the last of the
feast" j. X. Brown, dairy commits
sioner of New York, was by common
consent the great gun of the whole
campaign. In mature life, of fine adj
dress and appearance, of large practical
experience and extended observation
in the matters pertaining to dairy farm
ing, he was dairy school of himself
1t was good management on the part
of Secretary Bass to be able to get this
heavy man from New York and not have
to ask" Jones to pay the freight" Mr..
Bowditch's talk on Guernseys and Mr..
Winslow's on Ayrshires were very
good, but of course little one. sided.
Mr.. Bowditch showed some fine prints
of uncolored Guernsey butter which
was yellow enough. The yellow butter,
larger size, greater hardihood and do
cility, he claims, are points in favor of
this breed. Mr.. Winslow is quite mod
est in his claims for the Ayrshires, but
thinks them good for all purposes
milk, butter, cheese, beef, stock, etc.
Without saying anything about his
cows, it is safe to say Mr.. Winslow is
winning favor all over the state.
1t is a matter of congratulation that
the various institutions for teaching
and encouraging better methods of
farming in Vermont are now so well
provided for. The Dairymen's Asso-
citation now for the first time has
abundant means to do its proper work
without begging for funds. The Board
of Agriculture is better paid than be-