The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1893-03-10
North Bennington.

North Bennington.
The meetings of the Farmers Institute
held in this village in Bank hall March
End and Sd were of much Importance and
though attended by a fair number would
have interested house full at every ses-
sion. The programme for the six sessions
was fully carried out, all the speakers
being present and who had been wisely
selected with reference to competency to
present the subjects assigned them. The
secretary of the board called the first
meeting to order, and on motion Gilbert
S. Mattison of SALISBURY, was appoint
ed permanent chairman. The address of
welcome was by Hon. Arthur J.
Deweyof Bennington who in an eloquent
manner and in fitting words greeting the
band of speakers and all who felt inter
est enough to attend, not forgetting to
speak of the early history of Bennington
and the state which have so much for
which her sons may be pardoned for
having just pride. But one subject was
assigned for a session, the first being,
"Care of the Dairy Stock" H. W. Vail
of Pomfret, who has had much exper.
fence in this branch of farming, and one
that should deeply interest every farmer
made the matter appear so important
that very few present did not desire to
have a hand in this grand resource of the
state. He dwelU upon the selection of
dairy stock, its care and feeding and
showed that the product, the value of
which is now enormous, could with
proper attention be doubled from the
same number of cows, and with COM
paratively small increase in expense.
In the afternoon the "Vermont Driving
Horse" was the subject presented by G..
NJ. Winslow of Brandon. His remarks
were listened to with great interest, COW
ering as they did the relation of the diff
ferent qualities and breeds of horses, as
to probable profit to the advantage of
the farmer. Instead of breeding for
trotters, it was recommended TO aim to
ldlSC HOOd Ohll uOloCn
of suitable size and then if so fortunate
as to have fast one it might be hailed as
good fortune, for there will be many dis
appointments if the main object be the
raising of trotters. The horse more like
ly to be made profitable in raising fol
years to come was thought to be the
MorOou stool which hoe nrovad for oil
purposes to be the best and most endur
ing. In the evening the "Rsising anC
Harvesting of Farm Crops" as comment
ed on by Rollin G. Smith of Pittsford
held the attention of the audience, as
these all important portions of farm
labor were treated. laying as they dc
almost at the foundation of wealth anC
comfort, At each session the subject:
presented by the speakers were followed
by questions upon them by the interest
ed members of the audience and discus
sions growing out of the different matters
treated resulted in great profit
The first session ON Friday was occu
pied by Senator j. o. Sanford of STAN
ford and the discussion which followed
upon 'Road Building subject which
is at present receiving the attention o.
villages, towns and states as never be
FORE Mr.. Sanford modestly announced
that he did not appear to tell the farmers
and people just how best to build the
roads, but to offer some suggestions il
giving some of his own experiences il
the matter, which added to the ex
periences which had befallen towns il
this and other states might help to stim
ulate desire for general movement il
the direction of good and permane
road building. By the change brough
about by the manner of doing bushes
of all kinds and the necessity of movinl
more in quantity and faster than year
ago, and the greater using of these thor
oughfares for pleasure driving, the de
mand is imperative for better ro94s, ant
is engaging the attention of all classes o
citizens in every section of the land. Al
tention was called to the method for
merly and to quite an extent now of tn
high water bar on the hill roads to stol
the water from running down the middl
of the road and turning it to the side in
stead of keeping the road rounded i
the center and having the water flow t
either side, and at suitable distance
carry the overflow under the travel
the lower side through culvert of WOO
or stone. All money expended upo
roads should be done with reference
their permanancy. After using suficier
of the tax wisely expended, reservin
for tolerable good roads the balance