The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1892-12-21

mont grange through the sugar exchange
and in other ways for the advancement Of
the maple sugar industry, and it Is just to
say that Mr. Messer has been an Influential
agent in the accomplishment of the follow
ing work: In New Hampshire an anti
adulteration law, although less stringent
than the Vermont law, has been enacted
In New York, the second state to Vermont
in amount of its ample sugar product, q law,
which Is nearly or quite an exact duplicate
OF the Vermont law, was enacted last year,
and the curious fact is that it was brought
about through the medium of samples of
pure Vermont maple sugar, sent by Mr..
Messer to the master OF the New York state
grange, who was member of the New
York assembly. The resolution against the
repeal OF the bounty law was unanimously
adopted.
The installation OF the officers was con-
Quoted in the afternoon by Il. &. Hutchin-
son, secretary of the New Hampshire state
grange. q. J. Bell followed this ceremony
by another not down on the printed pro-
gramme-the presentation of a purse of 1915
in gold to Mr.. Messer for his valuable SER
vices to the grange. Mr.. Messer was en-
tirely surprised and responded with feel
ing and appreciation.
At the public meeting on Tuesday even
ing interesting addresses were made by Mr.
Messer, Mr. Ware and Mr.. Bell. @. ID.
Whitman of Brattleboro, who has charge
of the maple sugar exhibit at the Worlds
Fair, in the course of his remarks suggested
that the essential features of the exhibit
should include: First, the best sugar of the
best make, in the best form; second, rep
resentation of the present methods in use
in making sugar, and those formerly used ;
third, table of statistics; fourth, the bring
ing Of the producer into direct relation with
the consumer. Speaking of the preparation
of exhibits, he said that at agricultural
fairs he had seen syrup in medicine bottles
With l4,OOO,OO0 pounds of sugar made in
this state he had known fairs to offer to-
tai of $500 in premiums on maple products
while $50 was offered for the best yoke of
draft oxen. In his opinion the bounty had
been of great value, nearly as much SO TO
those who have not obtained il az to those
who have, because it had got the farmers
out OF the old haphazard way of making
sugar. Bulletin No 26 of the Vermont eX-
pertinent station was of incalculable value
The Vermont Farm Machine Company of
Bellows Falls il to furnish a model sugar
house, with all the utensils, for the Worlds
Fair, but the old methods should be shown,
with statistics giving the growth of the in
duStry and its present condition. Mr.
Whitman emphasized the value of bring
ing the producer and the consumer together,
but regretted that at present the arrange
ments for selling sugar on the grounds had
been refused
Professor j. l.. Hills of the state expert
ment station gave an address on the
Work of United States Experiment Sta
tions." The masters annual address traced
the rise and progress of the grange in the
United States and in Vermont. On the
subject of education his voice. as usual
was raised for good schools and progressive
school legislation. The grange under Mr.
Messer's guidance has always been at the
front on the school question. The master
regretted the continued failure of the state
agricultural college to merit the confidence
and favor of the people. On the subject of
Road Improvement" Mr.. Messer said the
farmers are in favor of good roads and are
willing to be reasonably taxed to build and
maintain them. but are not willing to con-
tract large debts for this purpose. Taxa
ton should be evenly distributed, so that
a just share of the cost of highways should
fall on those who are best able to pay for
road construction. The wealthy are apt to
escape from taxation and many wealthy
people are the warmest advocates of road
Improvement The farmers will not object
to be taxed on their real and personal prop
erty If the rich show their hands and sub
nit to taxation on the same basis. Conclud-
ing this part of his address, Mr.. Messer
said: In my judgment the new road law
enacted at the recent session of the legis-
lation is wise measure and will result in
much Improvement in our highways with
but little additional cost to the people"
The master touched upon the matter of
farm labor and the failure Of the bill to es-
tablsh Bureau of Labor and Industrial
Interests. Whatever may have been the
reasons in the past for abandoning farms,
the difficulty i'll procuring competent help
is now one of the chief causes for the de-
sire to sell farms
The master is always able, interesting
and reasonable in his addresses, and his
last is no exception to his former efforts
he discusses matters of great Importance
to farmers inteligently and forcibly.