The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1897-01-13

| is not the best and most economical
method let us substitute something else,
but let us not continue to haul the milk
to the factory and haul 1t back again
after the cream is extracted.
The home separation OF cream is, OF
course, quite problem, that is wo thy
of our attention. A neighborhoCd sep
arator, for from two to five farms was
recommended, or better yet, separ-
ator on every farm. The cooperative
creamery was recommended, thus keep
ing the profits close to the patrons.
The cost of manufacture, which falls
eventually on the COW owners, is the
load and drag on the butter business
that we must attack and reduce, and
in the cooperative plan this cost is very
much reduced. The economy of doing
any work on large scale is everywhere
recognized. Shall we not apply this to
butter makingp Cooperation among
creameries is now advisable in New
England, and the speaker urged that
there ought to be consolidation also
of creameries. This can be done with
out fear of a" trust" before our eyes.
This should be accompanied by an ex-
tension of cooperation, and the
cow-owners should own the consolidated
creameries. This is possible and prac
ticable, but if the farmers will not do
this, then they must pay somebody else
for doing work they might have done
the mselves.
The economy in labor, fuel and real
estate in such consolidation was dwell
upon by Mr.. Alvord, and he said be
failed to see any serious obstacle TO
such consolidation, barring the item
of cost OF transportation which would
work itself clear.
WEDNESDAY EVENING.
The proceedings Wednesday evening
were enlivened by several selections
from the Montpelier Military Band,
stationed in the gallery. The attend
ance was larger than at any previous
session.
Hon. Victor l. Spear of Braintree,
Secretary of the State Board of Agri-
culture, was first on the programme to
speak on sanitation on the Farm"
MIR. Spear suggested some of the com.
mon errors into which the farmers of
| Vermont fall in regard to sanitation, as
viewed from the standpoint of prac-
tical, level-headed farmer. He thor
oughly believed there was need, on
our Vermont farms, of making a care
| full examination of our surroundings TO
| find the causes IOf bad sanitation.
Proper methods of ventilation were
touched upon. Ventilation in the
most of our country homes is good, but
the speaker could not say as much of
the drainage and water supply. The
water from many wells is dangerous to
health, and water from suspected wells
should not be used for drinking or
cooking purposes until samples of it
are sent to the State Experiment Sta
ton 10 be analysed.
Improper drainage is fruitful source
of disease on our Vermont farms.
Good drains made of tile are somewhat
expensive, but we cannot afford to do
without them. While ventilation is the
least danger in the house, it is of no
small account when considered in con.
nection with our stock. Mr.. Spear did
not believe that warm and poorly
ventilated stables were responsible for
tuberculosis, but he felt sure that this
disease is affected by its surroundings.
Stables should not be in Easements
when this can be avoided, they are gen.
orally damp and dark, and decrease
the resisting power of the animal
against disease.
Mr.. Spear said he had little to say
about tuberculosis. He had already
expressed his opinions on this subject.
He hoped the worst had been reached
and passed. About 10000 cattle in the
state have been examined, and about
1000 of these were found diseased and
were killed.
At this point the committee to award
the Sharples prize made it's report.
This prize of separator for the best
essay on 1.-THE Best Method of Offering
Cream Separators to- Farmers" was
awarded to Mrs. Luna S. Peck of
Brookfeld. There were six COM
petitors.
To Professor j. L. Hills. director OF
the Vermont Experiment Station, was
assigned the practical topic, Better
Farm Dinners" Human food, its Of
fee, use and abuse were considered by
this cultured gentleman from a scien.
tific standpoint. His statements were
fortified by statistics obtained from IN
questioned authority, and from his own
experience. Professor Hills talk was
illustrated by charts suspended over
the stage. II any criticism of PROBES
sor Hills admirable address were made
it would be that it scared over the
heads Of a majority of his hearers.
After selection by the band, Gov
ernor Grout was introduced. Owing tC
the lateness of the hour his remarks
were somewhat brief He gave the
farmers present some excellent advice
regarding harvesting of early crops OF
hay and oats and advocated putting
corn uncut into the slo. The great
gulf to-day between the owners of the
Vermont farms and any profit from
farming is the hired man. The mar
who would be successful as farmer
must confine his work very largely t
that which he can do himself Gov
ernor Grout endorsed emphatically tb'
cooperative creameries, as operated 10
day, and gave, in closing, some of hi
experience in farming at Derby.
The president appointed as commit
tee to award the Sharpless; prize