The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1908-02-14
FARMERS RECEIVE.
VALUABLE. TALKS
On Various Subjects Pertaining 70 AZ.
ucultarh Subjects - Yesterdays
Meeting Of State Board OF AZ.
riouitufe Well Attended.

Tho meeting oi the Nermoni state
board Of agriculture yesterday in Grange
hall Sas well attended by prominent farm.
ers oi this and surrounding towns. Much
enthusiasm was shown throughout the
mo~iing particularly in the discussions
that followed the speaking. Questions
that showed considerable thought and In.
lercst wev put 10 the speakers aud tend
81 TO draw out practical points on the
subjet In hand Music was furnished
By the Grange orchestra and gave a pleas
ing variation TO the program.
The address II welcome was given by
Master Harry ". Spanldins. master Of
rptec,iye grange. in behalf of the local
organization. lie spoke oi the privilege
that the grange enjoyed ia entertaining
the state board. II only intensified, he
said. the education and training that the
grange tried 10 develop in is members in
the welfare Of the agricultural interests Of
the state. The ini address was given
by Frank l.. Russell on the Vermont
Horse. Mr.. Russell went 10 some length
in reviewing the history Of the Morgan
horse and in showing the merits of this
breed which he styled as the typical Yer,
mont production. lie mildly upbraided
the farmers Of thi. state in not giving
more attention 10 the raising of horses.
lie told Of the profit IN rearing good
horses and paid respect 10 the farmers Of
several years ago in their attention TO
breeding. lie seemed 90 think that the
farmer today had neglected 10 count the
raising Of horses as a profitable pursuit.
Mr.. Russell then advised the agricultural
ist 10 procure thoroughbred Morgan sires
and go into the rearing Of Morgan horses
II for no other reason than for the finan-
cal remuneration that il would bring.
II. Walker Mckeen, ex-secretary OF the
Maine state board. gave an excellent talk
ON the Dairy Cow. He took up the diff
ferent breeds used in the dairy, laying par
ticular emphasis on the Holstein. Here.
ford. Guernsey and Jersey. He spoke of
the notable features of each breed but
did not tell which he considered the best
milk producers or the best butter max
ers. Mr.. McKeen took up the conforma-
ton OF the dairy COW and told how nee
essary il was to aim TO develop not only
the parts directly connected with the
milk production but OF the general
growth of the shoulders and chest as well.
II was brought out that in this state the
average COW was giving not more than
$50 pounds OF butter year which to the
intelligent farmer is sufficient to show that
those cows are kept at a loss to the own.
er. The cows at the Vermont experiment
station. the speaker said, were giving
about 400 pounds OF butter year. MI.
McKeen cautioned the farmer to be more
intelligent in his selection Of cows. he
advised them to test out each one, to hnd
out how much each cow was producing
and to sell those which were not up to
the standard. He thought that the farm
er should breed only from those cows
which showed the best results and that
these should be used as the basis OF the
herd. Mr.. McKeen illustrated many OF
the parts of his subject by use OF maps
and charts. At the close the speeasaf ~;
phasized the matter of feeding and eaye
valuable hints on the results gained from
proper nourishment.
Winifred Wheeler of Concord, Mass,
gave an instructive address on Small
Fruits. He gave most attention to the
strawberry which he pronounced to be a
profitable factor in the farm produce. He
spoke of the cultivation of the berry and
the relative value it had in the general
raisers were particularly interested in
this subject and asked the speaker many
questions in regard to matters which had
to do with local conditions.
DR.. Holton spoke in the evening on Boz
vine tuberculosis and on Pure Milk Sup
Div. The speaker took up conditions that
tended to produce the disease. He spoke
in particular of the unsanitary. conditions
Of the stables in which some of the farm.
ers kept their stock. How health and
cleanliness could survive under conditions
described was a matter left to the au-
iience to determine. He encouraged the
'armer to be careful as to the drainage
If the stables and yards and as to the
disposition of manure. Dr.. Holton then
old of the excellent work being done IN
connection with pure milk. Two years
400 two.thirds of the milk supply was
ound to be dirty but now he said only
,ne.third is pronounced unclean.