The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1900-11-14
THE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE.

Bat little Of interest in opposition to the
State Board of Agriculture was developed
at the hearing At the s Ate House Thurs
day. Chairman Davis Of Pomfret presided.
About fifty were in attendance including
the members Of the committee OF agricul.
ture.
Mr.. Currler of Troy, the real author Of
the bill to abolish the board, was the chief
spokesman in opposition, with Tiukham
OF Pomfret az lieutenant. Those who
spoke in favor OF the board were the secre-
tary, G. j. Bell of Walden, ex-Secratary V.
l Spear of Randolph, Professor l. Hills
of Burlington, Representative Burditt OF
Pittsford and Alpha Messer of Rochester.
Mr.. Curriers' effort WAS to belittle he work
of the board and to show that 1t was a USE
less organization, and OF no benef to the
farming population of the State; Conse-
quently the appropriation for It's support
Is a waste OF money. His disioin ed efforts
in this direction were entirely futile, and
fully refuted by the renarks from the other
side,
Secretary Bell spoke at some length in
regard TO the labor of the board az cattle
commissioners, plainly showing he good
working OF, the board in this direction In
eply to Mr.. .Currier he gave statistics in
r gard to he cost of maintaining the board.
NJ Spear also gave testimony in this d.
rec On, correcting some OF the statements
of .Currier.
rof. Hills spoke In favor OF the board
showing colclusively that the word of
mouth well spoken is OF more value than
the written word even OF the experiment
station. Mr., Burditt answered Mr. Cur
rier's question as to the value of the board
to the farming population and plainly
showed that it has been OF great value to
the farminS community, especially in his
own town.
Mr.. Messer spoke of the educational work
of the board and proved that farmers in
afitutp9 in this State and In nthar Gtataa
are Of untold value and cannot be estimated
ia dollars and cents any more than can the
work of teaching in our schools or preach
iHg in our churches.
There can be no valid objection to the
board. The present spasmodic effori for its
adjustment is but the recurrence of similar
efforts which have been made ever since
the board was established and it mostly
comes from a class of men who rarely IL
ever at end the board meetings which are
held in their own towns. II the me hods
of the board are faulty and It's work is along
lines which are not practical for Vermont
farmers, the remedy is not in the backward
step Of abolishing the board, but in such
change of policy-involving a greater ex-
pendtture If necessary-as will make its
work Of greater efficiency to the agricul-
tural interests OF the ate.
But at the hearing it was not shown that
the policy of the board WAS wrong, or its
work inefficient. The sweeping charge
was made mat 1T Is good Tor nothing and
should be abolished" This is no argument
why it should be abolished. The testim my
at the hearing was all in the opposite direc-
ton. None of the friends Of the board claim
that it is perfect, or that it is the embodi.
ment of all OF the agricultural teaching in
the State. l is only one Of the many text
books which go to make up the agricultural
curriculum of the farmers lifelong educa-
ton.
Two years ago the chief objection to the
board was its work rs cattle commissioners
in ryng to eradicate tuberculosis from the
cattle of the Slate. This work is now COM
mended by those who oppose the board, and
their erratic efforts are now wholly directed
against the institute work Of the board.
The hearing will be continued at a time
to be fixed by the chairman OF the COM
mttee.