The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1889-12-25
Boarding ArOund---NO. s.
AT STOWE.

of the largest towns in the state, but
she is one of the smartest in "spunky
Lamoille." Here we met good fair
audience of intelligent people, gathered,
in the language of the law, " for the
improvement of agriculture and the
general interests of husbandry, and the
promotion of agricultural education
throughout the state" Lucus Silies
was chosen cha rman. The first ses-
sion, Tuesday morning, the 18th, was
devoted to the subject of -" Breeding
Dairy Stock" Professor Cooke gave
the rules and regulations, and the topic
was discussed by Messrs. Winslow,
wilkins, Gale, Mcmahon and others
Professor Cooke and Mr.. Winslow
urged the use of not only thorough bred
stock with pedigree, but also animals
of individual excellence.
At the afternoon session William
Chaplin spoke to full house on the
general situation of Vermont Farm
ers and Farms" He claimed that
while farmers had founded aud built
up the state, that their power, prestige
and influence had sadly declined in
later times, and there was much dis
elimination against that class in the
customs and fashions, as well as in the
laws of the present day, especially in
matters of taxation, social and political
rights and privileges. Hon. George
wilkins said that assertions were easily
made, but that he would like to have
some specifications; he would like to
have Mr.. Chaplin show some instances
and proofs o. where the laws discrim-
mated against farmers. Mr. Chaplin
replied that the law allowed every man,
woman and child to deposit 81 800 in
savings bank and have it exempt from
taxation. The rich and wel-to-do peo-
pie put in so much that on the re-
duced grand list the farmer, who is
struggling with his debts and mort
cages, has to pay more taxes. The
savings banks and trust companies are
taxed only sixty cents on 500, while
the farmer is taxed from one hun
dred to one hundred twenty-five
cents on the same amount. These
laws, pretending to help the poor,
do actually help the rich. The
average rate of taxation on farms
is not far from Sl.25 on Sl00 of the
grand list. The 600 miles of railroads
in the state, with all their equipments,
are worth at least $50, 600 900. That
would make a grand list of three hun
dred thousand dollars. One dollar
twenty-five cents on the dollar of that
sum would make an annual tax of S375,-
600. That is what they ought to pay to
make their tax equal to the tax on
farms. What they do pay is about one
fourth of that amount. Governor
Bingham said: "And the railroads
grOW poor at that THAT may be, )" re-
Joined Mr.. Chaplin. 80 do the farm
ers. Yet they have to pay their taxes
all the same" j. w. Newton of Stowe
gave a good talk on "The New Agri-
culture" illustrated by figures on
the blackboard He claimed that the
late discoveries of science, and also the
experiment stations, ought to enable us
to use our stock foods more econom-
ically and to save our fertilizers more
perfectly, to raise more produce and
buy less.
NJ. w. Davis in the evening spoke
on Economy in Stock Feeding"
dwelling mainly on the use of corn,
clover and grass, and, to balance the ra-
ton, an addition of cotton-seed meal
bran, oil meal or brewery grains, which,
ever comes cheapest in ones locality.
The talks on " Ensilage," Cooper
alive Dairying" and " Horses" on
Wednesday, by Vail, Smith and Wins
low, we did not hear, but understand that
the interest of the meeting was fully
sustained. 1t adds much to the value
of these meetings when not only the
leading farmers of a county take part,
but the professional and business men,
like Messrs. Bingham, Wilkins, Grout
Moody and Mcmahon, take a hand.
The sharp questionings of these bright
men wake up the members of the
board. The older board men say this
is the best meeting this county has had
in three years. although they are gentr-
ally good in Lamoille. Fine specimens
of corn, butter-tubs and sap-tubs we're
exhibited.
AT PLAINFIELD.
From Stowe to Plainfeld is some
thirty-one miles. You cross some rather
poor country in Moretown and Middle
sex. but strike very good section of
land in Barre, Berlin, East Montpelier,
Calais, Painfield, parts of Marshficld
and Cabot. These are about as good
farming towns as you will find in a
Q77O) the land iobbers of the colony
u NEW L VI lOuuu lutIt was Stbl
land here and secured grants of towns
named Truro, Kingsborough, New
brook and Kilby, containing some l00,-
600 acres in all. In 1873 they sent
Samuel Gale, with a party, to survey it,
but Ira Allen, with "A small band of
Vermonters, drove them out. After
wards the present towns, except Berlin,
were granted by the new State of Yer
mont So much for ancient history.
Here in the center of rich farming
community, at the pleasant village of
Plainfeld, on Thursday morning, the
: 10Th, we found assembled in Kinney's
: Hall goodly number. Hon. W. s.
Martin presided and DR.. Lazell gave
the opening address and welcomed the
board cordially. The doctor has fine
little farm of eighteen acres that is
kept in good shape. Rollin G. Smith
= spoke briefly on the relative advantages
} of " Winter and Summer Dairying,"
claiming that cows that come in in