Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1910-10-12

ton develop a class Of scientific ard
practical farmers.
81 therefore recommend that the
present general assembly establish one
or more agricultural schools, with all
the necessities and advantages which
should pertain thereto.
THE WORTHLESS DOG.
While considering agricultural life,
| cannot refrain from referring to one
of the special evils or pests of farm
life, viz, the worthless dog Person
al experience of a most disappointing
character and careful study of farm
life conditions in our county for the
last eight years, have convinced me
that the worthless dogs of our towns
and cities have driven the sheep from
our hillsides and forced upon the
farmers the keeping almost exclusive
ly of cattle. One of the most sue
cessful breeders of Spanish Merino
sheep in our section, after having
spent twenty-five years in perfecting
his flock, was compelled to dispose of
the remnant and substitute cattle,
though not until he had shot on his
premises the seventy-fourth dog chas-
ing his sheep. This may be an I'M
others suffering from the same evil.
"Our laws do not and should not
permit the keeping of dogs or other
animals that may be cause of serious
financial injury or damage to our peo-
pie.
Il would recommend to this assem-
bly, the serious consideration of this
subject; the continuance of q reason
able tax on dogs. the compelling Of
wearing collar as at present, with
the owners name plainly marked
thereon, and, in addition, requiring
each owner of dog to deposit a bond
with the city or town clerk of 500,
more or less, which must be main
tanned at this amount with one or
more sufficient sureties. Thus an in
jured party could at once realize for
MS loss, so soon as he could prove the
ownership OF the offending dog.
Some statute to this effect drawn
properly and feariessly enforced
would rid our state of the more unGe-
sirable ha'f of our dogs at once, and
ii this law could be made effective it
would inure greatly to the benefit of
our farmers, and to the large increase
of sheep in our state.
"In this connection, it may not be
out of place for me to call attention
to the failure of local officials to en-
force our present laws requiring the
killing of all dogs not licensed and
collared. No law can be effective I'M
less it is enforced.
FORESTRY.
During the last few years the sub
ject of forestry has been attracting
increased attention from those citizens
who have the best interests of the
state at heart.
mo argument is necessary at this
time to convince our people of the
great good to be accomplished by the
practice Of forestry, so called. The
only question is, in what manner can
the best results be attained? Our
first forestry law of any Importance
was enacted in 1904, designed to pro-
tect our forests from fires. This law
has served its purpose reasonably
we'll, though it is thought amendments
could be made which would help to
more thoroughly accomplish this OBJ
jeCt. Our people may feel justly proud
of our advancement in this field, as,
with only four years experience, there
is only one state with larger nursery
than has Vermont. l learn from Pro.
fessor Halves and Mr.. Hitchcock, of
Pittsford, to both Of whom I am in
debted for many facts, that there are
now growing, on land furnished freely
by the state university, about three
million seedlings. 1t was in 1906 that
the law was passed establishing this
nursery for forest seedlings, and not
until 1908 did the state obtain the
services of trained forester.
''ID addition the state has $50, ZOO
seedlings growing at Sharon. on land
generously donated to the state by Mr..
Charles Downer for forestry purposes
and about $50, 600 were sold and trans
planted in 1909 ana 375, ZOO in 1910,
and it is expected that 600, 900 of
these young trees will be distributed
in 1911. These trees are sold to our
people at cost, which is about one-half
of what they would cost from any
other source. They are scattered all
over the state and the results in few
years will be most beneficial and far
reaching.
Our state has two reserves. and it
should be the policy of the Legislature
to provide method by which the
state can acquire through the state
forester. additional lands, by gift if
! possible, anu occasionally Dy purchase.
"Our people do not appreciate as
they will, the influence of these re-
serves upon the public health, upon
the local lumber market, upon the
beauty Of our scenery, upon our water
supply. They serve all these purposes
and others, whose influences will be
potent in the development of our state.
81 respectfully ask your considera-
ton to two practical questions relat.
ing to forestry:
First. Can the method of taxing
timber lands of our state be revised
so as to encourage the preservation
and growth of our forests?
Second. Shall the state share in ;
small way in protecting our larger
lumber tracts from fires?
"Tne suggestion has been made
that the state should establish fish ant
game preserves in different parts O
the state. upon which fish and gam
8 can be allowed to propagate freely
scattering thence over the surrounding
country. | see no reason why some O
the money available for the protection