The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1912-06-15
To Stick Together and Remain
Loyal to Their Traditions
FIELD DAY HELD IN BARRE
Several Speakers of Note Present, In
Guiding Oliver Wilson, Master of the
National Grange-Many Subordi-
nate Oranges Represented.

Several hundred grangers gathered Al
the Granite City driving park yesterda,
afternoon and listened to speechmakinG
by Congressman Frank Plumley o.
Washington, Oliver Wilson of Peoria, III.
master of the national grange, Prof. j. L
Hills OF Burlington, director of the Yer
mont experiment station and dean OF the
agricultural department Of the uniyer'
sity of Vermont, A. w. Allen, who repre-.
sented the Barre Board of Trade, and
G. f. Smith of Morrisville, master of the
state grange. The occasion was desig-
mated as a grange field day and members
from every subordinate grange in the
| Winooski valley and Central Vermont
oranges were present IL was one OF a
series of meetings which State Master
Smith and National Master Wilson are
conducting throughout Vermont, the last
one to be held in Hardwick this after
noon.
! The weather conditions were ideal for
an outdoor gathering and many OF the
/ farmers who attended with their wives
and children must have been tempted to
Istay at home and spend one of the few
| pleasant days that June has thus lar
offered in tilling the soil that yesterday s
speakers urged them to improve Some
thing in the way of exhibiting their
products was attempted by local farm
ers. horsemen and dealers in farming i'm
pIements. The Smith stock farm had
number OF blooded cows in the stalls,
and horses from the stables of Page
nI A nj IN
exhibition. A. W. Allen had a display
of agricultural tools. and automobiles
from the Drown Motor Car Co., and the
II. +. Cutler Maxwell agency were on
the grounds. During the afternoon,
chauffeurs from the two garages were
placed at the disposal of the visitors,
and many a farmers wife and children
were given fast spin about the course
while the exercises were in progress.
H. NJ. Farnham of Montpelier acted
as chairman of the exercises, introducing
the speakers in turn. On behalf OF the
Barre Board Of Trade, A. w. Allen ex-
tended q hearty welcome to visiting pa
irons Of husbandry and besought them
to visit the Granite city oftener. He
explained the mission of the Board OF
Trade and said that its prime object was
to make one OF the busiest trade centers
in New England achieve even greater
progress. Barre is in the midst of one
of the finest farming sections in the
country. said Mr.. Allen, and he urged
the agricultural men of this vicinity to
improve their opportunities.
Prof. Hills of the state agricultural
college was called upon during the early
part of the exercises, and he spoke at
some length on the extension work which
the university of Vermont Is carrying
on among the youth of the state. Prot.
Hills proved himself loyal friend to the
and he asked their cooperation
in the work which the agricultural col
lege has undertaken.
State Master Smith was the next
speaker, and large part of his address
was devoted to emphasizing the oppor'
tunities which are awaiting Vermont
farmers of to-day. Mr.. Smith mentioned
some of the bills which are 10 be intro
duced in aid OF agriculture at the coming
session of the legislature, urging his
hearers to support these measures in
their behalf to the best of their ability.
Mr.. Smith also touched upon the exten.
sion of the agricultural schools of the
state. The farmer, he said, is Vermonts
greatest asset, and he asserted that the
which await the patrons
Of husbandry are almost beyond realiza
tion. The speaker told of several Yer
mont farmers who have been signally
successful in their undertakings.
Probably the most notable speech OF
the afternoon was given by Congress
man Plumley. The second districts rep
resentative in Congress spoke in eharac-
ieristic style and held the close atten-
lion of his audience throughout. His |
address was shortened TO half-hour to |
allow him to catch train north. Con-
yressman Plumley heartily seconded the |
contention of the previous speakers that |
many opportunities are facing Vermont |
farmers. and proceeded to tell of some |
.hings which will help the good cause
through legislation. He described the |
Methods employed in legislation. saying
hat the work on the floor of the House
vas only stage work. The rehearsals
n the committee rooms, he asserted, con-
,tituted the real work of the sessions.
Congressman Plumley is a member of
he committee on agriculture, and he
rave an interesting account Of work
,erformed by this committee. How to
ind potash has been one of the many
,roblems facing the committee. Govern
nent experts have been sent to every
orner of the country in search of q
upply to take the place of German pot
sh formerly imported for fertilizing
The desired chemical was at
ast found in a seaweed known as kelp.
.ater, government chemists discovered
mother. inexhaustible supply in the
deserts, so that now the
armers of the United States are no
Dnger dependent upon Germany for this
ecessary farming adjunct
He spoke also of the desire on the
art of Congress to establish satisfac.
ory parcels post system, asking the
armers at the same time to bear with
he committee on post roads and post
fliees in its search for satisfactory
olution of the problem. He asserted
hat the systems now used in many En-. ,
Dpean countries would be impracticablc I
l this country with its broader areas
nd different topography. The aim in
a parcels post system. he {
hid. was to wrong no one and not to s
npoverish the treasury.
Congressman Plumley was inclined TO ]
oubt the contention that the three J
sFces which are keeping the parcels post {
roget from realization are the Ameri- 5