Year: 1862

'""t Tue enterprise OF the people VIII not suner
them to fall into disrepute. 1t is also to be
hoped, that the time is not far distant when if
the Bounty is not restored to our County So
cieties, an Agricultural department will be con-
nected with the State Government


Although, this is period of war, it is no
time for us to abate our interest in Agricultural
Associations. If they ever needed fostering,
they need it now. The welfare and future
greatness of our State, depend largely upon
the condition of our Agricultural Societies.


Nearly ten thousand men have already left
or are about leaving Vermont, for the battle
field. Out of the e, it is safe to calculate that
seven thousand at least have been agricultural
laborers. A similar draft for men has been
levied upon all the other States. This must
inevitably make labor dear And it behooves
our farmers to study means by which labor may
be saved. The mower and the harvester have
already come TO our relief and, it might be
suggested, as further means of saving labor,
that we plant less land and manure it better
Readily as every one admits the fact, it is still
difficult to secure practical assent to the doc
trine, that is wiser and cheaper to take sixty
bushels of corn from one acre of land than
from two.


The price of wool for the next few years,
reasoning from analogy, must be high. The
cotton crop will net be planted extensively at
the South as it has been in years past and if
the blockade is not raised by the first of April
next, in many States il will not be planted at
all. Should the rebellion not be suppressed
within another year, as very likely it may not
! be, very little Ct the cotton crop of 1861 will
! find its way to market for the next eighteen
months; and when we consider that the people
must be clothed that the use of woolen fabrics
during the present high price of cotton goods,
| is much more economical that the million of
men in the field wear and destroy, in weight, a
third more of clothing than in the peaceful
! avocaions of life that at the South all the
! carpets have been cut up into blankets and that
very little of the worn out stock will be sup
| piled until peace is restored, from the fact
! that the South has not even the raw material
! 10 replenish with,--the whole seeding States
| not producing as much wool as the State of
Ohio, alone; it can be seen, that not only dur
ing the war, but at its close, when the million
of men in the army return to their former en-
| ployments, discard their military clothing, and
dress as they were wont in broadcoths and
| doeskins the price of wool must continue above
| the average price of the last five years. In
time of war, the quality of wool is matter of
no small consequence. Vermont has limited
herself to the production of the finest woos.-
But the wool most in demand now and bring
ing the highest price, is coarser grade The
query may well be made, whether it will not he
equally profitable for us to turn our attention
to the production Of a somewhat coarser staple


IL, -. ,l,,
priced mutton for the market.


The number of horses in Vermont before the
breaking out of the rebellion, was about fifty
five thousand since which time, it is calculated
that nearly ten thousand have been taken from
| the State for army purposes. This immense
levy for horses has been made upon the entire
country. When ii is considered that compare
lively few of these horses will find their way
back; that the number will die of disease or
become unfit for service is twenty times as
great, as it would be were they used in other
kinds of business that to meet this great
want of the Government large portion of the
/ business horses in our large cities, have been
bought up; it readily appears, that even during
the war horses must increase in value; and at
| its close. when business shall revive and trade
resume its accustomed channels, the demand
for horses must greatly exceed the supply
Reasoning from these premises, no more
profitable labor can be engaged in, than the
! production of Business horses.


In no department Of our annual exhibitions
is there so great baroness as in the display oi
fruit. 1t is evident, however, from the success
of the few in our state who have given attention
to fruit growing, that not only can good apples
be raised in most sections of the State, but
that they can be raised to much profit 1t
might be well, with the view of stimulating in
creased interest in this department. to offer
large premiums upon nurseries and fruit and
also, premiums for essays containing the eX-
perence OF the writer's in fruit culture. 1t can.
not be anything bun inattention to this great
subject that has prevented our State from rails
ing at least sufficient supply of apples to meet
the demand of our domestic market.


This opportunity is improved to repeat sug
gestion made in my last annual report; that
this Society, in order that its influence may be
felt as State organization, should publish oc
casionally agricultural matter, embracing statis-
tics and facts, gathered from the observing and
thinking practical farmers of the State. As
vet, we scarcely begin to realize the high ex-
pectations which a State organization justifes


That our progress would be slower than that o
many similar State Societies, the founders o
the Society had reason to anticipate from the
outset and the fact should be no marvel to us


The Vermont State Agricultural Society has
fought its own way, maniully and alone. 1t ha


never asked favor from the State nor has it re


ceived State patronage to the amount of sin
gle dollar. Whatever of reputation it has giveI
the State; whatever prominence it has giveI
its agricultural Industry; whatever improve
ment it has excited by its premiums; whateve
market it has created by inducing strangers
from distant States to visit its annual Fairs anC
witness our hocks of sheep unsurpassed anC
our valuable breeds of horses, is due, not I,


State patronage, but to the infexibe enterpris
of few sagacious and generous hearted men
who some eleven years ago, put their shoulder
t to the wheel and their hands in their pockets
, and as its first Board of Directors, pledge
: themselves each to the other that come success
or come defeat. the premiems offered by tn


Society, should all be paid, if every cent therec
was taken from their own private purses. Thi
hgving been the origin and history of our As


sociaton, it is not matter of surprise, tina
we have been unable like many other Stat
Societies to give to the public annually q
e beninially, a volume of rich agricultural matter


But our Society has had growth and develop


ment and it may well be considered, whethe


we have not now attained that maturity
= years and strength, which will justify us in COZ
$ trbuting our mite to the literature of Agricu
4 ture.


:, The all conquering power of mind which ha
thus far triumphed over matter, refining th


"A ka, tha Mill iUbt inn