Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1893-01-12
THE STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE
vsrmonts Resources aud How They Are
Bsing Developed.


Bsing Developed.
The State Board of Agriculture held
meetings on Tuesday aud Wednesday Of last
week OF Northheld, Mr. William Holden
being chairman. The evening meetings
vera enlivenod by excellent singing. We'd
resday evening was given up to Ever
mont" MIR. V. l. Spear Of the board spoke
on "Vermont's Resources" He said: Vsr-
monters have in their Investments been apt
to look too far away and to overlook the
oppor tunities lying close at home, yet it is
very doubtful il the distant fields have
made any better return than was to be
found in Vermont. Fifty years ago the
West called and Vermontors always in peace
end war in tho vanguard, rushed to occupy
those great praries. But the Pacific lie
reached, the tide receding aud the building
up and improvement OF tho settled country
is underway. l hold that no spot Of equal
size promises fGirer prospects of reward for
industry than Vermont. Emigration has
ceased, the dollars are more largely kept at
home. The failures OF Southern and West
ern investments brought poverty to some,
losses to more, and have been u severe but
perhaps needed lesson. We do not credit
the rainbow schemes as we used to do, and
we now invest labor and capital nearer
home.
What are the resources of our State and
what opportunities for investment are offer
cd ? How do we stand as an agricultural
State ? In spite of the immense crops re-
ported from the virgin soils OF Western
States, Vermont soil, cropped for a century,
yet yields prolific crops. According to the
1890 census but three States produced more
corn per acre, but four or five more oats and
potatoes, but ono more buckwheat, while
none made as much maple sugar. In other
standard crops the State stood high upon
the list in the general average per acre.
Vermont's fertility is not exhausted.
We have not been credited with the man
ufactures we really have, yet we still have
large amount of undeyeloped material for
| manufacture Our marble, granite and
slate industries lead those Of all other
States, if not of all other countries, yet I'M
doubleday vastly more remains unworked
and undiscovered than is now made use Of.
From our hills and through our valleys run
streams that carry many good water pow
ers worth looking up and utilizing. Dur
ing the past fsw years the manufacturing
interests of the State have been on the
| wend. There is close connection between
the mill and the farm as they are inter-
dependant, the success Of the one being the
success Of the other. There are farms for
| sole in Vermont that better combine cheap
ness and value than in any other State.
They unite good soil, fuel, water supply,
easy markets, fairly good roads, school,
church and society privileges, and afford a
| living, support and education to a family.
They will not ensure wealth, but neither
will city or Western life.
MIR. II. NJ. Arms OF the board followed with
a description OF Vermont for Summer
Homss.n He said that he thought no bet
ter homes existed than on our Vermont
farms. His own experience on the frontier
had taught hipi the value OF q good shelter
and he appreciated it. Others-city people
| tired Of bricks and mortar-are recognizing
| tee beauties of northern Now England and
Hooking to 1t in summer. The summer
boarder crop is paying one and well worth
cultivating. Our fres home life, our pure
cir, lovely scenery and water are at
tractive TO them, and they seek and find
health and strength among our bills aud
valleys New Hampshire has rathsr had
the start Of our State in carefully cult
waiting tLis crop, but Vermont scenery,
people and attractions are at least equal to
hers and are rapidly being recognized. Our
drives are replete with delight Our ns-
lures, we believe, are hospitable and our
| latcn strings are out.
DR.. Davis said that maple sugar and Nor
| gan horses were noted Vermont products
and that her hospitality deserved to rank
with them.
Mr.. Turner-How have the Sweies sue
ceeded on the farms OF Vermont? Mr.
Spear replied that the men generally had
worked cut in the corporations and left the
women to run this farm in fact were not
| successes.
Mr.. Dole--Vermont's quarries convert
useless rock into available cash. North
field has good slate lodges which il developed
would bring wealth to the town
Mr. Holden soid that he thought maple
sugar paid best OF the farming industries,
yet less and poorer Is made than should be.
He believed, however, that our climate rem
dered it possible for us to beat the world in
this product
Mr.. jerks said that from the fall Adam
and his race had been rovers; in tae person
of Columbus had crossed the seas; as YER
monters and Others roamcd westward. But
now the tide was receding and he believed
much would flow back to Vermont which
had lett her, and that her future was that
OF the pleasure ground Of the wealthy. Her
climate aud soil enabled her to breed up
merinos and horses, as well AS other prod
ucts, which were unsurpassed.
Mr.. Sanford of the board called attention
to the love for the Mother State felt by for
rner Vermonters, as shown by the forma-
zion everywhere of leagues Of "Sons of
! Vermont; and DR.. Davis closed the even
ing with tribute to the State, which be
claimed was second to none, tho State Of his
birth, Vermont.
| MILK TESTING.
The East Calais board meetings on Thurs
day end Friday we're largely attended and
much interest shown. Mr.. w. f. Bliss was
chosen chairman. On Thursday afternoon
Mr.. j. L. Hills of the board spoke on "MiL
TESTING illustrating his remarks by the
use OF the Babcock test. He said that dur.
ing the past few years dairymen had begun
TO see the need of milk testing. Until re-.
Gently milk had been sold at creRmsriss aud
cheese factories for fixed price, regardless
Of quality. Testing milk is used to deter
mine the real value OF milks, and of ons
milk compared with another. Is there
any great variation in m!lks ? Yes, not
only between different herds, but in differ
ent Cows OF the same herd and brsed, anC
IL, ba at - Loo