The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1897-01-06
Dairymen In Council.
Opening Proceed ings of the Twenty seventh
Annual Meeting of the State Dairyman's
Association Address by the President
and Report of Officers,

Opening Proceed ings of the Twenty seventh
Annual Meeting of the State Dairyman's
Association Address by the President
and Report of Officers.
The opening session of the twenty
seventh annual meeting of the Vermont
Dairyman's Association was called to order
shortly after ten o'clock Tuesday morning
by President Sanford, with about fifty men,
bers present. Prayer was offered by Rev.
DR.. Norman Seaver, and, at the request of
Mayor Strattop, Hon M. 8. Stone State
Superintendent of Education, gave the ad-
dress of welcome. Ex-Mayor George W.
Wing had been announced for this address,
but he was necessarily detained in the trial
of the Wales case. Mr.. Stone said he sup
posed he had been selected for the pleasant
duty because he was the only farmer in the
city. He believed new spirit had been in
fused into agriculture in the state, because
Of the work done by this Dairyman's Asso-
citation, and he believed that through this
influence the attractions OF a life on the
farm will be presented. to the young men Of
the state in such way that they, in the
profession. Vermont is state noted for
its men and women. II our government
would consider that agriculture is the ba-
sis Of all prosperity, and would further fos-
ter it, the speaker believed better results
would follow and better times would come.
Mr.. Stone very cordially extended the well
come and freedom of the city to the mem
bers of the association.
G. w. Pierce of Brattleboro, secretary OF
the association, responded. He said the
members were glad to visit the capital city
OF Vermont, and hold here its annual meet
ing. While Vermont leads the world in the
manufacture Of butter, we must keep up
with the procession, and be ready to accept
the latest improved methods. Mr. Pierce
referred to the cheese and milk industry of
the state as Of the greatest Importance, and
believed that the best butter in the state to-
day Is made In private diaries, and not in
the creameries. He believed proper care Is
not exercised at many creameries In regard
to cleanliness. The best butter ought to be,
and could be made in creameries II more
care were exercised. He believed there
should be a grange in every town in the
state and that every farmer should be q
member. 1t would help the farmers So
cially, morally, intellectually and fnan.
cially. The cordial words OF welcome by
Mr.. Stone were acknowledged by Mr..
Pierce in happy manner.
The annual address Of the president, Hon.
j. U. Sanford was next in order. Mr.. San
ford first referred to the early work OF the
association as very different from that of
80 many farmers Of keeping accurate cash
accounts of their farming transactions was
warmly commended. The high standard OF
the Vermont dairy product must be main
tanned and no step backward taken. The
price and effect of cattle food was touched
upon, and the immense sums paid in the
state for fertilizers, over 100000 annually
suggests the question, is this necessary, and
does 1t pay? These questions will be dis
cussed at these meetings. The dairy bust
ness OF the state represesents more capital
than any other. There are 100000 cows in
the state, with an annual product valued at
$10,0O0,000. Dairymen and farmers COM
plain that they are Disseminated against in
this era OF hard times but the speaker did
not believe this is true. The farmers have
not suffered more than have any other class
of people. In closing Mr.. Sanford predicted
prosperity for Vermont and Vermont farm
ers in the future.
g. w. Pierce read the report OF the secre-
tary and treasurer, showing receipts, 81 500;
expended, 81,S11.35; deficit, $289.35. Adj
journed until halfpast one.
TUESDAY AFTERNOON.
The attendance Tuesday afternoon was
much larger than at the opening session,
and a keen interest in the proceedings was
manifest. Professor G. ID. Woods. director
OF the Maine Experiment Station, was in
troduced by President Sanford, to speak on
The feeding of dairy stock" Professor
Woods first spoke OF the composition OF
feeding stuffs from a scientific standpoint
He referred to digestive experiments on
different animals, with results, and the ef-
fects OF breeding and age OF cows on diges-
tbility. The influence of different kinds
and quantity OF fodder were referred to.
Hay should be made as quickly as possible
and with little handling Whether fodder
is fed whole or cut, dry or wet, cold or hot,
has little to do with its digestive qualities
Food plants, as rule, should be cut while
iu full bloom, to obtain the best results
The influence Of concentrated food ON coarse
fodder was exhaustively discussed and
many experiments made by. the speaker
were cited. The cow, and not the food,
applied mathematics, and cannot be calcu-
lated like solar eclipe Professor Woods
closed his admirable and scholarly address