The daily morning journal and courier., 1895-12-18
THE FARMERS CONVENTION
4 THREE DAYS SESSION OPENED IN
 WIRNER HALL YESTERDIr.

WIRNER HALL IESIERDiI. Addressed by Governor Coffin and Mayor HendrIol1-Lectures by James Draker of the Worcester Park Commis sion and Dr. sturgis of his City-LarGe Exhibit of Fruits and Other Farm produes-To- days Program,
 The annual meeting of the state board of agriculture and farmers con- vention opened yesterday morning in Warner hall with about 25O persons, mostly farmers and farmers wives present. Vice President of the State Board of Agriculture L. J, Wells of South Woodstock called the meeting to order at 10 o'clock and Rev. Dr. w. l.. Phillips of the Church of the Redeemer offered prayer. A quartet led by J, r, Cornish of Norwalk sang a couple of selections, after which Mayor Hendrick delivered an address of welcome. Sec retary Gold of the state board spoke briefly, paying a compliment to New Haven's hospitality and introduced Governor Coffin, who was greeted with applause. The governor spoke of the time when he was farmers boy, say ing that he was proud of it.
 MT. and Mrs. Cornish sang a duet from "The Haymakers," and Chair man Wells announced that Governor Coffin had consented to preside dur ing the remainder of the morning ses- sion.
 The first paper of the day was that of Professor w. H. Brewer of Yale on the, subject: ''The Effect of Well-kept Grass Land, Long Established, in Civ ing Stability to Business"
 After Professor Brewers paper an adjournment was taken until p. m. At the beginning of the afternoon ses- sion Secretary Gold took charge of the question box and as he read each ques- tion it was discussed thoroughly One of the questions was: How Far North of 41 Degrees North Latitude Can Pome- granates Be Grown?" and the answer elicited went to show that cultivation of the fruit north of that latitude was not only impracticable but impossible.
 On the stage were seated Vice Presi- dent Wells, Secretary Gold, Charles Lee, MT. and Mrs. J. P. Cornish and James Draper, a member of the Worces- ter, Mass, park commission. After the questions had been disposed of Mr Draper lectured in a most interesting manner on "Our Home Grounds and Our Rooadsdes; Their Influence on Our Own Lives and the Lives of Others" The lecture will be found below. MT. and Mrs. Cornish sang another selec- tion at the close of the lecture. The lecture was then discussed, the discus- sion being taken part by Messrs. N. s. Platt, Foote, Lee, Bowen, Strong and Averill. At the close of the discussion Secretary Gold announced that he had ready to send out, as called for. the spikes to mark trees according to the act passed by the legislature of 1S93 providing that certain trees along the roadside may be marked by these spikes and cannot then be cut down except by permission of town authorities. MT. Sessions, secretary of the Massachusetts board of agriculture, spoke on the oper- ation of a similar law in effect in his state and said wherever town had
 
 law the results were pleasing. The session then adjourned.
 At 7:30 o'clock it was again called to order and after singing by MT. and Mrs. Cornish Dr. W. c. Sturgis of this city spoke on Edible and Poisonous Fun gil" His lecture was finely ilIustra ted by stereopticon views. Dr. Sturgis de- scribed the various sorts of fungi, both those growing out of tree trunks and those growing from the earth, and told of the kinds which are edible. He said that it is always a good rule to follow to avoid using for edible purposes all fungi having white gills or white spors S. No definite rule can be laid down, as sometimes thought, in regard to the stalk or ring on the stalk. Those fun gi which exude a juice when broken are rarely edible and the same is true of those of vilava where they leave the ground are poisonous and there is TO antidote known for their pOison They usually grow near pine woods and are not poisonous to the touch. Among the varieties of edible fungi is the parasol mushroom, which has a long, slender and hollow stem and a top like para sol, bilged outward. It grows in the autumn in pastures. The secret of cooking fungi Is to let them cook slow ly in a covered dish.
 There is one exception to the rule that fungi which exude juice are poi sonous, and that is a sort found in ev- ergreen woods. It's stem is of a red dish color and when broken it exudes an orange-colored juice. It is only found in Connecticut ill the Berkshire Hills. It is, however, usually well to avoid all bright colored fungi Among rose and salmon colored there are a few edible sorts. There are some edible spe- cies which grow on trees, among them the beefsteak fungi, which is red, looks like beefsteak and tastes like meat. Puffballs are edible before they become brown inside, that is, before the spores become dry and brown. Any pufffoall, white inside while young, is edible.
 The lecture was illustrated by fine lantern slides, and was most interest," ing.
 Among those present during the day were: w. R. Sessions of Boston, sec retary of the Massachusetts board of agriculture, and wife; MT. Appleton of Boston, president of the Massachusetts