Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1895-02-19
Stamford Meeting of the State
Board of Agriculture.

and Sth. B. F. Dunn was chosen chair
man of the meeting. Judge Hall gave
an address of welcome, stating the i'm
portance to the community of these
meetings, and referred to the benefits
derived from former meeting of this
kind, held here by the Board four years
ago. Improved methods had been
adopted as result of that meeting
G. M. Winslow, secretary of the Board
gave an instructive talk upon tuberculo-
sis, giving brief history of the disease,
its prevalence, its character, etc. He
said he believed tuberculin to be valu-
able aid in the diagnosis of the disease.
He did not think it necessary nor advis-
able to test all the cattle by tuberculin,
but farmers should be on the elert and
weed out from their herds all animals
showing symptoms of the disease, or, in
any way being out of condition. He
does not think the disease exists in this
State to the extent that it has been
thought The newspapers of the coun-
try have done much to agitate and scare
the people. He believed it the duty of
the farmers to use diligence in the pur-
chase of cattle, as it was found that the
disease is usually introduced into herd
by the purchase and introduction of in
fected animals. Also that it is made
more infectious by poor sanitary condi-
tions, bad ventilation and exposure.
With the exception of few localities
in the State, where the disease has been
known to exist for number of years,
he thought there was comparatively lit
tie of it in the State.
Mr.. Spear talked upon Farm Manage
ment," and said the farmers should fully
understand this business and concen-
ate his efforts, instead of carrying on
mixed farming with meager knowledge
of the various branches in which he was
engaged. He should select some branch
that he has liking for and, learning
we'll the details, he is apt to succeed.
For the dairyman he believed the farm
crops should be hay and corn. He would
not try to compete with the great West
i'll raising grain.
Mr.. Vail discoursed upon the value of
breeds in reference to their fitness for a
special purpose. He recommended the
Ayrshire for The mllkman, she being a
large milker of robust constitution, her
milk being superior to the other breeds
60 nf fot
globules. No trouble with the milk
churning, as is often the case with the
Jersey and yet her milk is sufficiently
rich in fat, the average for the breed be-
ing nearly / per cent. For butter max
ing he recommended the Jersey, and
claimed that as they had stood the test
as being the best for that purpose, the
butter.maker cannot afford to use other
breeds.
Mr.. Sanford led a discussion upon
"Road Management" showing the ex-
travagance in former methods and as
often managed now, urging better and
more economical methods. He said we
ought to stop pretending to build our
roads every year, and also to stop this
periodical working to repair damages
that have been caused by neglect. No
other method can be so extravagant as
when the roads are only worked once a
year, allowing them to run down and go
to waste, and then expending great eff
forts to build them up, to run down
again. This should be stopped. And
the spirit of the new road law contem.
plates change. He advised that the
town commissioners divide their roads
into sections, with a chosen man 70 look
after and care for each section, going
over it often to protect 1t from damage
by the running water, and to mend in
time all slight defects. This system has
been tried in some towns with remark
ably good results. Most of our roads do
not wear out but are injured by water,
this causing nearly all the damage. Con-
slant attention will correct it. The
thoroughfares that are much used by
heavy traffic can best be kept by con-
slant work by one man. He gave an in
stance where one man with horse and
cart, had taken cart of road the past
season. six miles in length, and where
there was much heavy travel, by working
about one mile each day, going over the
entire SIX miles each week. The result
was much better road than formerly,
at less cost.
Professor Hills of the Experiment Sta
ton, gave lecture upon "What the Ex-
pertinent Stations have done for Agri-
culture" which was very instructive and
interesting to the audience.
The last evening, Mr.. Arms talked up
on the topic "Home Life Upon the
Farm" He was followed by Hon. Obed
Hall, the Rev. Mr.. Landry, the ReY. Mr..
Powell, and others.
Notwithstanding the cold, stormy
weather, the meeting was very success
full and profitable to the community, as
was shown by the interest manifested.
ENnaIIad