Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1897-02-26

FARMERS HAVE THEIR DAY,
Continued from the ID page)

with gravel and slate chips which he ever
obtained were got by puttinglOn while the
road bed was moist, working somewhat in
to the mud and forming hard shell which
keeps water from soaking into the road.
Culverts and sluices should be opened just
before freezing up. The whole trouble
with our roads is with water. Roads
should be crowned, and on steep grades
water bars must be used unless ruts are
kept out Towns should own their own
teams. Brattleboro's teams have worked
nearly all the time for the past year and
have saved the town $500 in that time
ID. L. Perry of Brattleboro then said that
in one instance selectmenhad built an iron
bridge at a cost of $500, when a stone arch
would have cost but 5000, the annual cost
of planking being more than the interest
on the cost of the arch. Good tools are
most important and should not be dis
pensed with. Let us improve the grades
and fit our roads for macadam surface TO
be built as fast as finances will permit
W. Spear on Bovine Tuberculosis.
Victor |. Spear of Brantree then adj
dressed the meeting upon the "Relation of
the state to bovine tuberculosis" saying
that people have come TO believe that there
is more or less of farce in connection with
the subject, but experience has convinced
him that the matter should command the
attention of all dairymen, as the disease
cannot be harbored without great ultimate
damages, not only to the stock owner, but
to humanity at large. Opinions regarding
the disease, its nature, etc, have great
ly changed in the last few years. 1t is now
believed that the disease is not produced
spontaneously, and never exists in a herd
,,v,1a haE nv inf nf nh
mails. A case was related where % head
of cattle had been lost by one man in eight
years as the direct result of bringing in one
diseased animal. The disease cannot be
caused by ensilage, concentrated foods, or
in any other manner save by infection.
Neither is one breed more liable TO 1t than
others. Too much cannot be said in favor
of light, roomy, well-ventilated stables, for
cleanliness, light and air are all unfavor-
able to the development of the tuberculosis
bacillus. The address was comprehensive,
complete, interesting and instructive, and
indicated deep thought and extensive ex-
perience, combined with strong personal
interest
John T.. Gale on Farmers Organize
tions. D r.
The afternoon session was opened with
music, and John +. Gale of Guilford fol-
lowed with paper on Farmers organiza-
tions."
These. the speaker said. are Of recent origin, the
agricultural vocation being OF such universal dis
trihution and followed by such multitudes Of peo-
pie that il has formerly been supposed to Ice too
unwiedy TO admit Of successful organization
but modern progress and existing conditions have
made farmers organizations both possible and
| necessary. In the educational class he includes
| farmers cubs, boards Of agriculture and the
| grange, which has absorbed the farmers clubs
| IN most sections aud IN the opinion Of the speak
is at the head OF farmers organizations in this
country. In its national, state and local divisions
! 1t covers the entire country, Founded on the
| broadcast principles Of PATRIOTISM progress and
protection its mission is TO unite all good farmers
| under one cooperative stand and eliminate mid
| die men and guard and elevate the farming PEG
| Pile Boards Of agriculture are valuable as they
stimulate interest, infuse new spirit and advance
| new and progressive methods Their membe rs
are practical farmers Of Acknowledged ability,
whose successful experience Is invaluable TO the
| working farmer.
In considering the second or productive.class Of
| farmers organizations, We must realize that the
measure OF financial prosperity s not established
| by the amount OF bu, mess done, but by the mon
| ey saved. Taxes and Insurance are among the
| regular drains upon the farmers purse which
| might be somewhat abated Farmers insurance
| companies operated by the grange are saving
| thousands Of dollars annually to the farmers OF
| New York, New Jersey, ConnectcIt New HAmp-
| shire and other states. The Patrons Mutual Of
BrAttlsboro, nearly ready for business expects TO
eventually protect all the best farm property In
| Vermont.
OIher protective organizations are those OF
breeders, beekeepers, maple sugar makers, and
| dairymen's associations. Their mission is to i'm
prove stock and products and to protect the latter
| against counterfeit and adulteration Their in
tiuence is seen in laws regulating the manufacture
and sale OF oeomargRrine, filled cheese, and other
food products Of equally mysterious composition.
Canning factories condensed milk factories,
| cheese factories and cooperative creameries are
| among the speculative or financial class OF far
| merB' organizations, only the latter being oper
| ed Through
influence the butter product OF this country has
in reased nearly fifty per cent and the average
| quality has improved IN about the same ratio
| Creamerirs have stimulated production until only
a strictly fr~t-cass article can now be marketed
at paying prices
Every patron should realize that his returns
depend upon his individual care. and put forth
every effort to produce a superfne article. This
alone will ensure the profitable continuation Cf the
most important branch of agriculture In thi,
state Especial attention SHOULD be gwen to III,
production OF regular quantity as yearly con
tracts are much more satisfactory than commits
sion sales
Another farmers organization which concern
us all is the Vermont state legislature, for thi
being composed of farmers, or the representa-
tives Of farmers is, or ought TO be, farmers or
| ganizatIon. The attention of all who inter
ested in fruit growing is called TO No 1909 Of the
Acts OF 1896 imposing a penalty of from $40 &
$40 for spraying fruit trees while in blossom
with any poisonous substance. Fifteen thousan,
dollars a year expended by the state expert
ment station, which is especially charged b!
| the statutes with investigation relating to thu
ravages OF insects and disseminating information
advisable for their abatement The station ha
| recommended spraying fruit trees while in bios
som, and the practice has saved thousands o
barrels of fruit to the farmers OF Vermont, bu
now the fruit grower must turn over his orchard
, to the canker worm, the rust. pear blight and tn
tent caterpillar, while the curculio flaps his wing
! in diabocal exultatiun as he contempates the II
crease in the number OF Nermont's aORndOne
farms,
The success and value Of every farmers organ
cation depends upon the interest, confidence an
|
4 attend their grange, creamery and other a>socit
: ton meetings, know what Is being done, an
| lend their influence and help and If any such OF
e ganization Ia depressed or in adversely strive {
learn the cause and apply the remedy BE mani
: and do not desert or condemn a cause which yO
l | know 10 be foun led on sound and Progressive
[ | principles merely because passing cloud cas-
| It's shadow upon IL. Organization is TOW a VIII
: necessity for single handed We cannot success
fully contend against the greed, the combination
q and counterfeits every where arrayed against Il
r food producers. Let us regard the warning
the MOhammedan priest as he calls fro ~ the pa
apet OF the mosque, and be vlgtlant, b. watcl
e full =" furin the language Of the / mortal pr ophe
"it is a condition, and not theory, that confron
, us"
= Governor GrOut.
y Gov. Josiah GIout WAS escorted to Il
platform at the conclusion of Mr.. Gale
address amid the applause of the assembl
aud after An introduction by Charms
" Pierce delivered very excellent sll-rouu
address, and made an unusually fAvOrab
impression upon his fellow farmers. Speal
ing as he did, in clear, strong voice, vii
~ the fullest acquaintance with the VArloV
L departments OF the agricultural industry,
r was frequently and enthusiastically q
plaudod.
Alpha MssSer.
Alpha Messer of Rochester, lecturer
the National grange, followed on Goo