The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1912-08-10
PLAIN TALKS
TO FARMERS
And Audience in Novel Institute
Appreciated the Words
USEFUL DEMONSTRATION
About 200 Farmers from Wi ltion Of
Washington County CAT Is at Nor
rison Farm Yestery afternoon
and Listened xperts.


rison Farm Yestery y afternoon
and Listened xperts.
|
Two hundred Washington county farm.
ers from eight towns gathered at the
Morrison farm on west hill yesterday
afternoon to witness demonstrations iu
horticulture by Prom. NJ. b. Cumming,
| of the horticultural department of the
university of Vermont, Burlington, and
to listen to practical talks ON the care
and breeding of horses and cows by
Andrew Elliott of Gault, Ont, an ex-
pert stock Judge, who is well acquainted
with Vermont farmers. Mrs. Lydia Par
sons of Forrest Ont, conducted an insti
tute for housewives during the afternoon
and her audience numbered over 60 ap.
preciatve women listeners. The meeting
was one of series conducted by o. l..
Martin, state commissioner of agricul
ture, and it was eminently fitting that
President Guy Potter Benton of the uni
versity of Vermont and State Agricul-
tural college should be present to make
a few Introductory remarks.
As guests of the proprietor, John G..
Morrison, the agriculturists were given
the freedom of the farm, and no pains
We're spared to make the visitors at
home. Out on the spacious lawn, a
dainty luncheon was served throughout
the afternoon, while the veranda of the
house was given over to the institute
conducted by Mrs. Parsons. The at
tendance exceeded even the most san
guine expectations of the promoters, and
Commissioner Martin may well feel that
the soil workers of the state are heartily
in accord with his excellent plan for
bringing scientific farming truths home
to the farmer in practical way.
President Benton and the Farmers of
Vermont.
The meeting opened at o'clock, when
Commissioner Martin introduced Presi-
dent Benton, who spoke for several mo-
ments. The presence of the head of the
state college was wholly unexpected on
the part of many, and his words we're
received with applause. President Ben
ton stated that one of his purposes in
accepting the presidency of Vermont was
to become affiliated with the agricul-
tural department. He added that he had
turned down the offer of another college
because it could not offer the
for solving some of the agri-
as well as educational prob
lens. In participating in the meeting,
then, it had been his original intention
to get in touch with the farmer. If he
failed of this purpose, he believed, one of
his most important missions at the state
would be futile. President
Benton repeated his intention of famil- /.
iarizing himself with rural conditions in
Vermont and said that every possible
means would be used to make the state
college of agriculture factor in the
development of Nermont's agricultural
resources.
How to Develop Apple Orchards.
Out in the orchard Professor Cum
mings gave an excellent talk on the
methods of pruning apple trees, demon
,trating the principles of horticulture By
frequently shipping dead limbs or nse-
ess shoots from the tree. He explained /
he best methods of spraying the foliags !.
ind told how best the dread apple worms
md other parasites could be eliminated.
He maintained that it was the nature
If the apple tree TO grow too thick and
aid it should be the orchardist's object
o keep it clear of too many branches.
Speaking of the pruning process, Profi
cummings contended that it was just as,
much of surgical operation on the treed
Is the amputation of toe on human
,eing. He advised the farmers to com
,lete their grating each year during the
laws between April Is and May 10. He
iso described methods of extinguishing
eaf eating insects once they gained
rm hold in the tree.
Mr.. Elliott's Talk on Horses and Cows.
Afterwards Mr.. Elliott gave an inter-
sting talk on horses and cows. Here,
gain the splendid stock of the Morrison
arm and its horses helped to bring home
he words of the speaker in more prac
zeal way. In his remarks concerning
orses. Mr.. Elliott directed most of his
ttention to the draft horses. He spoke
I the several varieties and argued that
ounds did not make the ideal draft
orse. His hints We're a valuable aid to
armers contemplating purchasing heavy
orses for the farm. The lecture on
airying was given near the COW barn,
nd several of Mr.. Morrison's fine Hol
teins were exhibited while it was in
rogress.
Household Institute for Women.
While Professor Cummings and Mr..
lliott were talking to the men, Mrs.
arsons was holding household instl-
ate for housewives on the yeranda. Mrs.
arsons dealt with some of the difficult
spects of farm life as il tsappears to
omankind and urged upon her hearers
he necessity of noticing the smail
,ings. She did not hesitate to score
Irm wives in general for the fact that
ley sometimes lack sympathy for the
tendencies shown by their
usbands. Her views proved to be a
holesome surprise for the women, and
sr remarks were listened TO with rapt
.tention.
In the group of some two hundred
rmers. as many as eight towns were
as follows: Barre, Barre
own. Plainfeld. Williamstown. Berlin,
Middlesex and Waterbury.
he institute closed near o'clock and
hen Mr. Elliott finished his demonstra-
on in the dairy yard, none of the farm
$ appeared to be anxious about getting
,me for chores. Commissioner Martin
ore a pleased smile. and everyone