The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1897-01-20
Farmers Meeting at West Berlin.

The State Board Of Agriculture held q
meeting at West Berlin, January ~. 1t
was opened by electing j. l.. Ayers as chair.
man. w. K. Colby gave short address OF
welcome. tuberculosis was then discussed
by Mr.. Spear. In the danger of contagion
to animals and man lies its Importance.
For this reason the state, upon application,
will make tests free, pay half their price
and the expense Of disposng OF the slaugh.
tered animals. This Is to induce co.opera-
ton. To pay full price would furnish a
market and put premium on disease.
all but six could be traced to source Of con-
tsgion. Perfect sanitary conditions would
reiard but not cure. He cited a herd OF
forty in which the disease spread to only
two in three years; but nnder bad condi-
tions in herd of fifty-six, the disease spread
to twentY-eight in three years. That no
bad effects come from testing is in evidence
in 200 900 animals tested. 1t is not catarrhal
consumption and does not date back over
fifteen or twenty years.
The grass crop was next considered by j.
r. Curtis. He said that early spring grass
gives the best results; get hay as near like
this as possible. He seeds land in the fall
with thorough preparation of seed bed.
Red clover is the most important plant 1t
stores up fertility for future crops. He cuts
hay by June 20; believes in putting hay in
the cock. CD. Bell advocated cutting grass
the barn three hours earlier the next day.
One-third of the labor is saved in this way.
Many farmers present approved Of this plan.
@. j. Bell spoke on raising and marketing
farm crops in proper manner. His re-
marks were replete with wit, wisdom and
Yankee drollery, contrasting past and pres
ent methods, implements and conditions.
Our maple sugar goes TO the consumer di-
rect and unadulterated. Children are a
crop Of great excellence, and it always pays
in Vermont.
Alpha Messer spoke on Raising and
Marketing the Corn Crop" Grass is king
at the North as cotton is at the South, but
corn is getting very near the throne. Is
can be raised nearly as cheap as in the
West; is being introduced into Europe and
Mexico for food and into India by the Eng
lish government for seed The crop for 1896
was two and one-fourth billion bushels.
Raise it by thorough blowing and pulveriz-
ing with the very best implements. Fertil-
ity is thus augmented. Use weeder and
thoroughly cultivate the crop; moisture Is
thus conserved and 100 to 100 bushels per
acre can be oh aimed on good soil. Would
ensilage most OF the crop, either whole or
cut. In the whole stalk the juices are prac-
tically sealed up and II is better preserved.
Eventually nine-tenths OF the farmers will
use slos.
j. II. Ware spoke on "The Management
of Roads" They are measure and pro-
moer of our civilization. The high value
of farms near town is due 10 ease OF narket-
ing crops. Good roads bring the remote
farms on more equal footing with them,
and increase their value nearly enough TO
pay for road construction. He approved
the law OF 1892 The road commissioners
duty is to know all about road making. A
large per cent of cost might thus be saved.
l Old methods are too expensive. Opposition