Year: 1872




its session at the Opera Honse, Wednes-
day morning, January 18th, 1872. The
convention was called to order by Hon.
Edwin D. Mason of Richmond, presi-
dent of the association, who delivered
the following address,


PRESIDENT MAsoN's ADDRESS.


Gentlemen Of the Vermont DaiTymen's


association =


We need contact with our fellow men
to quicken our blood and stimulate our
brain. 1t is beneficial to men of any oc-
cupation, much more so of ours, to be
brought face to face, where we can in
terchange opinions and experiments
The fundamental idea in the institution
of associations like this, is to better the
condition of our class by introducing
such Improvements in manufacturing as
will secure the best returns for the out
lay of labor and capital, by bringing out
papers and discussions on all subjects
connected with our calling and occupa-
ton, from scientific and practical men.
Before US is an immense field that is
white for the harvest, and needs earn
est, ardent, energetic workers. Our as
OON4dtlOh W do OlBdulZEu 1OI LuE DuIll1St
named, and this is the third annual
meeting. Although we have seen dark
days and financial embarrassments, from
which we have been extricated by the
generous aid of our State Agricultural
Society, we hope in the long future to
run a race of usefulness to ourselves and
posterity.


We dairymen are a stubborn class to
lam, yTa ln fon4u
a good deal of proof and persuasion. and
in too many cases, work out our own in
jury through fear of being too easily
deceived. This is a progressive age, and
those who allow themselves to fall in
the rear in the march of improvement
must be content to occupy second rate
positions and be satisfied with small pc
cuniary rewards.


1t is somewhat surprising that not
withstanding the improvements in dairy
farming, so little has been effected to-
wards inducing dairymen to perform
their operations in a more systematic
manner, and keep a regular record and
account of their dairy business general
ly and specifically. For one who prac-
tices such a method, ninety-nine keep
all their accounts Sin their heads" as it
is termed, and are rightfully called guess
dairymen, for they never know anything,
only guess it is so and so. They don't
know whether this, that or the other
mode of dairying pays the best; wheth-
er they can afford to sell their produce
at given price or not they cannot tell
whether it is for their interest to contin-
ue in the dairy business or not, nor even
at the end of the year are they sure
whether theirnam should be on the loss
or profit side of the ledger. Having
kept no record of their dOings, they are
almost wholly in the dark They can
only guess "it's about So" 1t is high
time for all such to take "a new depart
ure, and commence a thorough reform.
Of course keeping such records occupies
some time, but how can it be better
spent than in thus obtaining a better
knowledge Of our profession, and the
workings in that special branch in which
we may be engaged? ? Brother dairy
men, think Of this matter, and act upon
it. Don't be careless and stubborn, and
continue 10 drive on in the old rCuts,
simply because your fathers have done
so before you but accept a change,
when it is for your advantage to do so,
if not for your own sake for the good of
your boys and posterity,


They should keep an exact account of
everything connected with their dairy,
so that at the end of the year they can
sum it all up and know all about it. and not
have any guess work about il, so that they
can tell Just what it costs to make a hun
dred pounds of cheese or butter then.
and not until this can they tell whether
it pays 10 continue dairying. They
should also keep a similar account in all
other farm operations. and then there
would be an end of the continual guess
ing and thinking. and ignorance in re
gard 10 those things We should know
about.


In contemplating the great dairy i'll
terests of our State and its wants. ques-
tiOns which | cannot answer. and reflec-
tions which cannot keep back. crowd
upon me. Oppressed with their weight.
and the magnitude of the task before
me turn slowly and sadly away, secret
ly lamenting my own want of ability and
sincerely regretting that the duty before
me has not been assigned 20 abpr and
better hand.


At the conclusion of the address. the
President introduced Henry Clark. Of
Rutland. who welcomed the Association
and proceeded to speak upon several
topics of interest. As the address was
delivered extempore, 10y request the prin-
cipal points are given:


ADDRESS OF WELCOME BY MR. CLARK.


The duty has been assigned me of bid
ding the Association welcome to ou<
town and county. which is most cordial
" done. 1t seems appropriate that the
session of this most practical agricultu-
raj association of our State. should
hold its session in Rutland cOunty-thc
first to commence the dairy business af-
ter the settlement of the State by the
farmers who emigrating from the banks
of the Hudson. to the historic town Of
Dandy. which has, in all our history,
been famed for its production Of cheese.
Although, at the present time, perhaps,
the northern section of the State has
larger interest, yet our county Is fast
coming up to the standard of Northern
Vermont in the amount, value and ex-
cellence of its productions.


1t has been my privilege to know Of
the organization of the association and
to observe its history. 1t had its origin
in the necessities of the dairyman for
practical information and comparison OF
notes of experience. 1t has struggled
for an existence, but a noble work has
it done. 1t is the first Association in.
Vermont that has by its labors been OF
practical benefit in any particular
branch of a great industry in the dis
semination of useful information to be
directly influenced by it. The publ
cation of its volume Of transactions was
a new era in the history of agriculture
in the State. 1t afforded an opportu-
nifty to the producer to study the prin-
ciples enunciated in the various essays,
and to profit by the practical discussions
reported The work already performed
in these annual assemblages and the pub
lication of their proceedings have al
ready tended to elevate this particular
branch of industry, and the time will
soon come when the State should pub
I. -. e +ra,,oaatinaG for tho