Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1895-02-21
Board Of Agriculture.
Meetings at Rupert, Castleton and
Waliingford.

|
Tuesday, Feb. 18th.
M. B. Roberts was chosen chair
man, and e. f. Haye gave an address
of welcome. Mr.. Haye said of the
town of Rupert that it was almost
exclusively an agricultural town.
The only manufacture he could re-
call was in the early days under the
New Hampshire Grants, when the
copper coins in use at that time were
made in this town. Having no occu-
patton outside of farming there were
no local markets and the products of
the farmers had to be such as the gem
eral markets of the country called for.
The main industry here was making
cheese and very large per cent of the
income OF the farmers comes from the
three cheese factories located in the
town. Said there We're no abandoned
farms in this town and that the
farmers were improving their meth
DDS, and the people of the town were
as whole prosperous.
Tuberculosis was then discussed by
G. M. Winslow.
In the afternoon, III. M. Arms gave
talk upon the breeding of dairy
stock and illustrated his topic with
charts of animals of the different
breeds. He believed that the dairy
COW must be bred for the special pur-
pose of milk production and that the
qualities of an animal are mainly
fixed in the breed. He liked the
Ayrshire and Jersey breeds for the
dairy-the former for making cheese,
and the latter for butter. Following
this talk, was lively discussion upon
the matter of inbreeding and winter
dairying. The discussion brought out
the fact that but little milk was pro-
duced here in the winter months.
Mr.. Spear and Mr. Sanford, of the
board, both took issue with the prac-
tice of the people in this respect and
advocated the working of the dairy
throughout the year. TWAS stated by
cheese makers present that good
cheese could be made in winter if
milk were supplied but would per-
haps be made at some increase in cost
of making.
Before adjourning, it was decided
to hold the evening meeting in the
town hall, as the Grange hall was
proving too small for the attendance.
The evening session opened at {
O'Clock with music by the grange
choir. Mr.. Spear, Of the board, gave
a talk upon the maple sugar industry.
He said that this industry was Of i'm
portance to Vermonters to a greater
degree than to the people of any
other section, as one-third of the en-
tire crop of the United States was
made in this state. 1t should be Il
matter of pride to foster it, as it is
the only product in which the state
took the first rank in quantity pro-
duced. He did not believe there was
immediate danger of overstocking the
market with maple sugar. The indus
try could not be greatly extended be-
cause the number of maple trees was
limited. The present product of fifty
million pounds per year in this coun-
try only gives about three-fourths of a
pound per year to each person. In
reference to the low prices now re-
ceived for sugar, he said this was due
to two causes-first the presence in
the market of adulterated goods, made
from glucose and cane sugar that are
sold as maple goods; and second, to
the production Of large amount Of
maple goods of an inferior quality.
The first obstacle we may not be
able to overcome at present and may
have to wait until the government
gives us a pure food law, which will
take glucose, syrup and many other
frauds out of our market or at least
compel them to be sold for what they
are.
The second objection, poor quality,
may and should be overcome by the
producers. The maker Of maple sug-
ar to-day should put aside the idea Of
value in it from its sweetening quail
ties, and depend upon flavor for fix
ing the value.
| Maple sugar or syrup that is pur-
chased as a luxury commands to-day
a high price and it is paid by the con
sumner willingly. Many producers Of
maple goods in the state are to-day
receiving Sl.0O per gallon for their
syrup and ten to fifteen cents pound
for their sugar.
The only trouble with the business
is that not enough people are getting
these prices. Said that the man who
made a fine article might not get a
high price for it. He must find Gus
toners who want it; must put a little
business into the work and look up a
market. Suggested various ways for
doing this-by doing some advertising
in sections where sugar is bought, and
by means Of interesting friends or rel
atives outside the state to place his
product for him. Spoke of the Ma
pie Sugar Makers association as an
organization that is working for this
same purpose, and believed it was for
the interest of sugar makers to unite
and try to produce more uniform
product and improve their methods.
With reference to making, said the
farmer should consider his sugar Or