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A.asr A.a-K.iap-x.TXJK.ii .AJxro Aily 3tb"WS!ea.3?bk. fob the h.tjxla.lists of tech a-RBBisr ioxjjsrarvinsr state. VOL. V1.--NO. 10. ST. JOHNSBTJRY, ERIDAX, MBRtJARY 11, 1876. WBtOLE NO. 270. rUBMSHED KVEUV FMDAr nv ROYAL, CUMMINGS, St. joiiNsnunv, vt. C, HORACE HUBBARD, Asrfcnltaral Edr, 1'. O. Aitdr.ae, SprlliftAeM, VI. Term, of Snb.erlptton. One copy on. year, In lrnce, Tro Pollen. One copy lU Dionthi On. TMI.r. Oil. copy three month, on trial, lift C.nU. Free of PoMae;. to any Point In the United State, or Canada. All paper, .topped when the eubecriptlon hai expired. In reque illnjt a change of iiMrtft. th rxwtofftrc It It 1. b. changed from ehoull b ilrea at well M the new addrete. In Clnbe. At an Inducement for tabicrlbera to clnb together aivl brine; In ntbrr inbecrlbcrf , four coplee ar. rent tor fercn dollar., or at the rate of $1,7$ pet copy when four r more are ordered at a ttme. Hair, of Ailrertl.lncr. Torono .r innr. tncheaof epac rair or more weekf , 23 cents' an loch per week. Rcic, Multiply the number of loehei ipatta by tbe number of wreki and ttlrlde by four to find th. coat In Aollare. OoramunteaUoin for th. ArrlcnltQrat Department ahnnld be adjreeaed to the Agricultural Editor at Springfield, TU The openness or the winter has at last yielded to cold, with snow enough Tor sleigh ing. The Kohl-rabi is held in high esteem as a substitute Tot turnips. It elands drouth better than Swedes. Tbe Canada Farmer says that apples should be stored where it is cool and dry, and not disturbed to pick out decaying ones. A correspondent or the Maine Farmer fays in. breaking steers place tbe most dooilo one on the off side, as ho can make a good near ox or almost any steer. Tho committee on nays and means has prepared a bill reducing the tariff on woolen goods and many othfr articles of necessity, twenty per eent, and renewing the duties on tea and coffee, at ten and Tour cents per pound. Mr Allen Morse of Calais writes us that he has observed on tho intestines of hogs killed last fall many small bladders or bub bles of air, and inquires what the causo is, and whether they are an indication of dis ease in the hogs, and if so whether tho meat is good forifood. At a meeting at Birmingham, England, of breeders of Longhorn cattle, it was voted to form a society of breeders of Longhorn cat tle, and to establish a herd book. It was stated that sixty years ago Bakewell's favor ite cattle sold as high as the Shorthorns at the present day. We have from M. Field Fowler, 14-4 State street, Bostop, a circular, setting forth the value of cotton-seed meal as food for stock, and analyses showing its nutritive value as compared to other articles of foodi This meal is extensively used by dairymen in the Connecticut Valloy. . a.xe A farmer on the island of Nantuoket where the soil is miserably poor, states that last winter 050 loads of kelp from the sea was spread on twelve acres of land upon which he raised last summer COO bushels or shelled corn, 1,200 bushels of turnips, 500 of carrots, 300 of bcetn and 50 loads or pumpkins. e . The law prohibits tho confinement or ani mals in cars for more than twenty-eight consecutive hours without being released for; five hour's rest and food, under a penalty of from oue to five hundred dollars. This law Is in force in all the states, but docs not ap ply o animals fed apt cared for by grooms in tho cars. Somebody has applied to congress for a law conferring a letter papent or some pro' lection of that sort to the originators of new varieties of fruit, grain, vegetables, etc. and there are people so simple as to advocato such a law. Tbe result could bono substan tial benefit to the originators and would oc casion troublesome and expensive litigation, useful only to lawyers. It would be a mis fortune. ... The English .government having prohibited tho importation of diseased cattle from for eign countr cs, the farmers claim that large numbers of Irish cattlo brought across the border are. affected with contagious diseases, and demand that they should bo subjected to tho same restriction. Tho fear of offend ing the Irish is too strong, and great offense has been given to the English farmers by the refusal. ... ..I .-i ... . The American Agriculturist cannot rcc ommend tanners to roanulacture their own superphosphate. Tho trouble, tho loss from unavoidable accidents with tho acid, and the difficulty of completely neutral iiing tbe acid without rendering tho phos phate insoluble, more than balances all tbe saving. Thcro is danger of spoiling it in drying. Sulphuric acid is a very dangerous artiolo to handle. Farmers having calves which do not thrive, should look to their bedding. If they are obliged tto stand and lie on ice, or worso yet on wet manure, it is impossible te mako them grow, or even to keep in a healthful condition, Tho blood in their feet and legs circulates poorly and baoomci dis eased. This added to the discomfort they suffer prevents growth, Thoy aro not 'only set back in size and tako on bad shapes, but are permanently injured. Clean out tho stables every day and bed them woll, It will pay. New Jersey supplies tbo country with half its cranberries, 5,000 acres being de voted to tho crop. But the product has been diminishing year by year, many bogs falling to give any crop. The scald attacks the fruit just beforo it ripens. Tho disease 1b said by Professor Taylor, roicroacopist of the United States department of agriculture. who has visited tbe bogs, to bo caused by the sourness or the soil, causing fermentation or the fruit. He recommended liming the land and sand, but it is not effectual. The Vermont Watchman gives utterance to the belief that county fairs as an iuatitu. tie-u fail in nany points to meet the reason able expectations or those who ought to be benefitted by them and are most interested in them, and proceeds to submit a plan for rival fairs to bo held under the auspices ol tho grange. Id the same issuo it suggests tho query whether it would not be better that tho members of th board of agriculture to bo chosen by the county agricultural socie ties instead of roceiving their appointment from tho governor. Tho New York Tribune says every act dictated by the mind is followed by a change in tho brain, which though slight at first and liable to obliteration, becomes deeper by each repetition, until it is an established characteristic, and is transmitted to the next generation. Whin a creature jumps a fence a furrow or rut is mado in tho brain, and every time tbe act is repeated the rut becomes deeper and the habit of jumping mgre fixed aud hereditary. It has a singular effect on the "brain" of tho writer, living within twenty miles of four poke factories. Mr J, O. Oliver inquires what is tho causi of barn itch in cattle, and for a remedy. If memory serves us rightly this trouble i caused by a microscopic insect burrowing in tho skin. Oue or two applications to tht affected part of salt grease in which sulphui has been simmered over the fire, (but noi tho kitchen stove) effects a euro. The diioast is one which affects cattle when fed on dry hay at tho biros in winter. A daily ration ol roots and an ounce of sulphur in tho food two or three times a month are goed preven tives of this and other diseases. The Massachusetts agricultural college, with a farm of 300 acres which cost iu the raw state twelve thousand dollars, and upon which many thousand dollars have been ex pended in improving the soil, besides ten thousand dollars for a barn, and several hun dred thousand for college buildings, plaut house, boarding house, cto, with a very val uable stock of horses,- cattle and pigs, and a full rig of implements and machinery, all paid for, and an income from its fund and from tuition or 821,000. annually, finds it self short $9,000, annually, and has voted to make tho farm pay its own expenses, and to reduce other expenses $5,000, and call on tho. Legislature for $5,000. Poor thing! How it is pinched by poverty to be sure. Agricultural Fairs. The Vermont Vatohman favors tho hold ing of county fairs under the supervision of the county councils of the order of Patrons of Husbandry, "and if our slate agricultural society has outlived its usefulness, or fallen into bad hands, as some are claiming, what shall prevent the stato grange from holding a grand aud successful state fair?" Well there is need enough of an infusion of new life, and very likely of reform into tho man agement of county and state agricultural so cieties. Thero aro plenty of grumblers who stay at homo and tako care of their own business and leave these sooie'.ics to die or be run by those who bavo selfish interests to promote, who aro vociferous in the chargo of played out uscfulpess or fraud. They usu ally suggest the organization of rival societies as a remedy for tho alleged evils. Admitting tbe exiateoce of every evil complained of, the questions arise, is it best to reform and reorganize the societies we have or incur the labor and expense of du plicate organizations in fields which. ought to bo represented by those already in existence ? Is thero any obstacle in tbe way of a thor ough overhauling of any society which is not doing its duty efficiently and faithfully to tbe causo of agriculture? It will be conceded by every fair minded man, and by nono more readily than our con temporary that it is a waste of forco and or money to maintain two agricultural loeieties to perform tbo work within the scope of one. Our neighbors of New York, who tried the disastrous experiment of holding two rival state fairs in one week, can tell how the thing xcorkt. But tho reply is mads that "the societies have fallen into bad bands." How have they fallen into bad bauds and what is to prevent the new societies "under the supervision of the councils and the state grange" from meeting the same fate ? Tbo answer is plain enough. Neither the body of the farmers nor a fair representation of them go to tbo business meetings of the agri cultural societies to look alter tbe common interests. Any man in tbe state can become a member of tho state agricultural society, and havo ah equal Voice in its management by the payment of one dollar annually. And yet so indifferent are tho farmers of Vermont to the benefits to be derived from a strong stato agricultural society and a good slate fair, that they leave tho important work of that organization to be done by tbe directors, It is a notorious fact that twenty-five men would be a sufficient number to wafk into any annual or business meeting of that tool ety, pay down eaob his little dollar, and out vote tbo members present and take possession of tho society and its fund, It is not to be expected that all tbo far mers or even a majority of the leading far mers of the several towns in tbe state will go to Brattleboro, Burlington or any other poiut to attend a business mooting. They will not go to that trouble and expense to sco tho state fair with all its attractions of Gne stock, crops and farm implements and tho people, with horso trots and side shows, But tho county societies can send their dele gates to tbe state society to represent them and then, if the county societies were run by the farmers of the county, the stato society would represent, tbe body of tbe farmers, Unfortunately they are not so run as a gen eral rulo, and a very few, who havo a never failing fund of publie spirit or an axe to grind, are left to bear the burden. The farmers for whose benefit all agricul tural fairs are, or ought to be, run are the ones who have got tbe work to do, and on tbcra rests the responiiblity of failure through iueffioleney or fraud. Let them form town agricultural societies Or Iowa farmers' clubs or granges, tho body of tho farmers taking a part, and holding such fairs, agricultural meeting!, ete, as shall seem to them best calculated to promote the Interests of farming in tho town. Let them send men in whose ability and honesty they have confidence to represent them and watch ver their interests in the county society. Let them throw overboard all officers of the county organization who are Unfit for the position tboy hold, and put in their places men worthy or tho conGdenco of the people, Oouuty sooietics so awakensd would be the nest agencies for sciding delegates to tho itate society. If these very simple measures wero put in operation tho dry bones of hair dead organisations would become vitalized aud of some practical value. If on the other hand the farmers will turn out and sustain, without the simple machin ery we bavo described", such societies, state eounty or town as ought to bavo au exist ence, tho results will be substantially the same. But while they continue to treat ex isting organisations with 'indifference and neglect it stems liko adding to tho evil to increaso the number. The men whd hive put the most time and money into tho work which agricultural so cieties are doiogt are tbe ones who arc con. scious that a more general representation of tho farmers in existing societies is the real need rather than the formation or rival soi cictics. Pomfret, The name of Pomfret is a household word with good butter makers and intelligent far mers all over the land. The fine results ac complished by her Jersey dairies which have excited so much comment and surpriso dur ing tho last few years, have called attention to tho faot not beforo so generally known, that tho farmers of this towu aro not only industrious, prosperous people, but are taking the lead iu farm improvements, sccial en joyment and mental culture. It is very unusual nnd remarkable for the farmers and peoplo of a towu to bo so united and harmonious in social gatherings, which are 1'rco to all, whore rational enjoy meuts usurp the place of and orowd out a low class of itinerant shows. To this fact must be attributed the well known taste or the peoplo for what nay be termed intellect ual, social pleasares (or Wee versa as you will.) Wo had all anticipated the Pomfret meet ing with promise of an exceptionally good time. Out expectations were more than re alized in every respect. The good peoplo met us at the station, six miles away, and made their houses our homes, and gave every attention to our comfort that heart could wish. Delightful as this was to us, the in terest in aud appreciation or tho work or tho board, the enthusiasm for improvement and the evidences on overy hand that improve ment goes beyond mere theory, were still moro gratifying. One of tho pleasantest features of the oe. casioo was au impromptu collation at the all on Friday noon, when instead of dis persing to the farm houses for dinner, the ladies brought in their lunoh bukets and loaded down tho tables with a bountiful re past, such as farmers' wives an! daughters now so well how to preparo, of which all were invited to help themselves. They wore probably satisfied with tbo silent apprecia tion manifested, and perhaps astonished at the display or manual dexterities with knife aud fork. Becollections of Pomfret will be among the sweeteat-and most satisfying which will ioger among. tbq remlnitccnoes of. i .very do ighful winter campaigns among tho farmers of Vermont. Wo shall have a word to say hereafter of the Jersey dairies of Pomfrot. An Experiment Station in Vermont. The subject of experiments by scientific men, and men who havo devotod their lives to careful study and practico of specialties, has recently been brought prominently to the notice ol' Vermont farmers by accounts of similar enterprises in Europe, and the tingle one in America, at Middlctown, in Connecticut. The importance of such ques tions, for instance, as tbeso, in relation to milk, the raising of cteaui at different tern' peratures; coagulation by acids, reunet, elec tricity, or other agencies; the composition natural and artificial coloring of butter; the globules, animal nnd ether odors and essen tial oils, and the chemical decomposition of butter and cheese. Also in regard to that valuable tuber, the potato; the composition aud tho structure of different varieties. Fer tilizers, tho obvious questions iri relation to them. Seeds, their genuineness, purity, quality and vitality. Feeding, stock, steam ing food, food rations, etc. The apple, test ing the hardiness of promising varieties ; parasites and diseases; tho structure, growth and composition, and the causes and cbeml eal results of decay. There are many other questions which may, with great benefit to the farmer, be investigated, Tho facts nlrcady established by agricultural experiment , stations may be collected and made available. Such invest! gallons as these aro worthy tho attention of the most accomplished scientists. Wo havo the extraordinary gratification of rnakjng the announcement that Vermont is to have a volunteer experiment station. The following report of a meeting of the board or agriculture at Pomfret, February 3, will explain Itself: "Tbe oomniltteo appointed to consider the subject of an experiment station iu Vermont have given to the subjeot the consideration which its importance demands, and uuaui. mously recommend that the Vermont board of agriculture do establish tho second expert ment station ou this continent; and wo sub' mit to the board tbe following preamble and vole, the passage of which we recommend1: Whereat, There are many questions which need to be determined by accurate aud care ful experiments, and Whereat, Professor Henrv M. 8eolv or Middlebury has signified his willingness to gird without remuneration a portion of his time to such investigations and experiments, therefore, it is Voted. That the Vermont board or agri culture, manufactures and mining do estab lish tho Vermont experiment station, to be under tho control of this board, and that the sama be placed in the charge of Prof Henry M. Seely as superintendent. Voted, That the superintendent be author ized to make, or cause to be made by others, such investigations and experiments as shall seem to him likely to simplify and explain the relations of eoienoe to agriculture, make additions to our knowledge and skill in the cultivation of tho soil and raising and care I stock, and protect us trom Iraud and Im position. Suoh Investigation! to be without expense to the board, or the state. V. HORACE HUBBARD, lor Uom." The report of tbo committee was adopted, and the votes unanimously passed. Although the work to be accomplished must necessarily be small when compared to that of stations endowed and sustained by government pat ronage ond individual liberality, much can bo done, enough we doubt not to prove that this field of labor is one whioh ought not to o negleotcd. And we trust that from so humbto a beginning as this result of inesti mable value to farmers will ultimately aocrue. We should fail in a manifest duty did we omit to commend the self-denying labor Pro fessor Seely so willingly offers. Others give of their abundant wealth. Ho gives of the very sinews of his life. The Fayetteville Meeting. The meeting of tho board or agrieulturo at Fayetteville was, liko tho other meeting", or tho board this campaign, a poaitivo suc cess. The farmers of Newfane, Townshcnd and surrounding towns, testified by their resence, the interest they felt in the meet ings. Tho attendance at all the sessions was good. The papers contributed by tho resi dents were carefully prepared and denoted not only sound thought upon the subject, but Iso literary acquirements. The discussions which followed the reading of the several papers wcro calculated to, and did, draw out accounts or the cxpericnoo or farmers and tho conclusions to which they lead. This pari of the proceedings of the meetings is not only of greater interest, but of more practical value to tho farmers who take a part and who listen, thika the more formal papers and addresses. Tho farmers and people of Newfane mado tho members of tbe board and other visitors at homo among them, gave them every a t tcntiou which heart could with to enhanoe their comfort, and .ent thorn on their way rejoicing. Wo desire to make special ao acknowledgment or the hospitality or the families of Col A. B. Fraoklio and Dea W. A. Stedmau to the editor of the Farmer. Forth. VsRuoyT Fannin. Best Breeds of Cows for Batter. In tho discussions which havo take plico in tho Fahmkh as to jrhich is the best breed of cows, each party seems to think the breed or which his own herd is composed is the beat. Now there are so many circumstan ces which should have a relation to the se lection, that those who have recommended tho different breeds may be right under cer tain circutnstancs, and wrong under othars. ir wanted for general farm atock or for beef, for cheese making or selling or milk, or for the butter dairy, each would, in my mind, require animals with different character istics, consequently of different bloods. Theu tho location, quality of feed, and care have much to do with the thrift or productiveness of all breed.. Vermont Is so far from the land of cheap corn, that to raise cattlu expressly for beef, or to compete with tbe wott would seem to bo fiilly, and as butter is the leading feature of tho dairy business in Vermont, it would aeera that atock should be selected with prin ciple reference, to that, which being tho case, and all other circumstances in harmony, 1 should prefer tho Jerseys and their grades. Thero are somo exovllcnt cows in all breeds. Mr Parris has named extra Ayrshires. 1 have seen niunr natives that have mado their two pounds per day of butter, and one that made at eight years old, two and a half pound! in a day, but the extra nativo is very rare compared with the number raised. I believe that not ona in ten' of our native or common Block wincu aro raised irom calves, ever become valuable as. butter cows. 1 have a good opinion or tho Ayrshiro stock at large milkers or for chocso making, sb L once bad tome that wero not to be beat in that line, giving t.eir own weight in milk onco in twenty days. Still, although the cross was upon native stock that made two pounds of butter per day, tho grades giving fucb a. Dow of milk only made from one to one and oneifuiirth pounds of butter per day, As Mr P. has named some cood butter cows, 1 will name few of tho Jersey blood. "Tljo cow Uosa" tnadoiio the winter season 13 J pounds of butter per week. The cow "Duchess" has made 17 pounds of butter per week. Tho cow "Flora," imported by Thos Motley, over 500 pounds iu 50 weeks and was .not forced iu auy way. The "Skin ner cow' has made over 500 pounds of but- iu a year. Tho "Dewey cow" (grade) has given from 50 to 00 pounds of milk per day The "NorthGeld cow" made over 000 pounds of butter in 21 months besides milk and cream' in a small family. And many more can bo named which bavo done equally well. 1 do not consider a one day's product of but tcr so good a test of the capacity of t breed, as for a ytar, or what is better still tako the average of the breed, Tbe Jersey blood is not yet so plenty that half or three fourths of the-heifer calves art killed aud only a few of the test ones raised (at Is done With all the other breeds), but nearly all are raited, and what Is tho' result ,' When they come to maturity, the nine-tenths which are raised, proye to average bettor for butter. than the chplcest one.fourth of the other breeds which are raised. This is proved evory day, A'late writer Jo the Farmer gave $200 as the price of a Jersey heifer and thought farmers could not buy such. They ought not to buy any unless perohahoo a good cow a a living price. 1 do not couslder it es sential in improving the dairy to jatnp into a herd or pure bloods at fauov figuros, but rather, buy oklvts from good cows, grades if not pure bleods. It costs ne more to raise a one-hair or thrco-fourths grade Jorscy calf from a nice cow, than it docs to raise a scrub, and wheu up it is worth much more for but ter. In faot, I think a nico grade cow is equal to a full blood, taking all things into consideration. I was a long timo in being couvinood of the merits of the Jersey stock, and commcooed by purchasing calves from tbe best cows I could find.- Tho result is quite satisfactory both in size and quality. A. D. Arms. Monipelier, Vt., January 28, 1870. ror th VaauoRT fAitxin." Ballard's Fertilizer. Effoot of Btook on Drafted Fruit, Turninfr of Cattle' Horns. I noticed in tho Vermont Farmer a let ter from A. II. Smith giving his experience in the use of 8parhawlc& Ballard's fertilizer. He gave as a re.-ult of their use very good crops on bound out land, but he fails to give the amount used nnd the cost of tho same. He also fails to give any experiments to show that the crop might not have been just as good without any fertilizer as with it. It would not be strange to my mind that land that had been uncropped for nearly twenty years on being well plowed should have grown a fine crop without any stimu lant. Ha speaks of a slur on the above fer tilizer by Mr Spaulding. From my experi ence in using it and from observation where others have used it, 1 consider it an unmiti gated humbug. About one year ago Mr Ballard came into this place and advertised a free lecture, the subject being to show ut how "to mako lour blades ol grass grow wncre ono grew before." He told a very plausible story, backed up by several printed certificate!". The result of it waa he closed by selling eight or ten receipts for the making of his. agricul tural wonder at threo dollars etch, and be fore he left, the place ho sold several tons to one of our merchants, taking a horse in pay ment for tbe same. Myself, with the others, was one of the dupes. I manufactured and used according to directions about seven hun. tired pounds. Now for the result. I used it on greensward broken np the same spring. About one-half of tho piece I planted with corn after spreading broadcast a Gne load of yard tnauure and harrowing tbo same in with a cultivator barrow putting one-half' pint ol the fertilizer in each hill with tho exception of one row. That row I did not put any fertilizer in. The result was, I uever could aea a particle of difference from the timo it camo up till it was cut up, and when I came to husk it could discover uo difference. On the portion that I planted with potatoes I put no other manure except one-half pint of the fertilizer in the hill., Tho result was a little better than with tho corn though nothing to brag of. Forty hills with the for. tilizer did not produce but- about six pounds more potatoes than tho samo number of hills without it. It did not pay the trouble even at the tmall cost of ten or twelve dollars per ton. It may well bo classed with rait ing crab-applo trees, patent scythe sharp eners, lightning rod and foreign cloth ped dlers and other bumbuga of the day, with which farmers kuvo been duped. By toe way, I notice - that "E. W. B." has nt last rendered tardy justice to that Jersey heifer. 1 hopo that by another year when she proves lo bo one of his host cows he will dignify her with a more respectable name than1 "sneaking brute." 1 taw last fall a proof of tho principle laid down by Dr Hoikins in regard to tho grafting of fruit that stock into which we grafted influenced the obaraetcr of tho fruit." A neighbor grafted tome Summer Harvests into tho meanest kind or bitter-sonr crab-applo stock. The result was an inferior apple with Bono of the characteristics of tho Summer Har vests except being early. I noticod latt fall or suinmor you recommended tbo scraping of steers' horns ; you said you would scrape them on the side toward whioh you wished to turn them. I, at the time, called to mind a steer owned by a neighbor ; its horns stuok out forward with a tendency to lop down ; ho scraped them so that thoy turned up and made a rcvpcctablo set of horns. After reading your piece I inquired of my neigh bor whioh side ho scraped them ; he said ho scraped and greased them several times dur ing the winter they wcro two years old oi tho under tide. If any ono is unfortunate enough lo find his calves, or other stock, lousy, a good washing with buttermilk porno warm, sunny day will clean them out. J. II. WaittJitH, January il l. Meeting of tho State Board of Agriculture, Manufactures and Mining-, At Orwell, Tiir.ilay ami Wrilneeday, Jan uary us ami uo, mn. The meeting was called to brder by C. Horace Hubbard of Springfield, a memlxrof thu board, S. 11. Bascom, Esq, of Orwoll was elected to precido, during the sessions of tho meeting, and D. A. Forbes, Enq, of Orwell vice president. S. II. Bascomb gavo au ad dress of welcome, as follows: Gentftmen of (he state board of agricul' lure, manufacture! and muring i In behalf of the larviers of Orwell, 1 exteud to you a cordial greeting. Wo havo heard of you, we have road of you, and now wo esteem it a ploature and t. priviloge to meet you face to faca, You oome as tho honest represen tative of the stato, and as another has aptly said, as "missionaries of industrial progress." Yoii came with accumulated and accumulat ing atores of knowledgo and scieuce, and practical wisdom. Wo ask you to draw upou those stores for our benefit, You camo to us as instructors, educators, guides. Wu come to you 'as puptls, learners ucediug guidance. The suggestions you may make, tbe advice you may Live, we will most thankfully reoeive, and endeavor to profit by It. We welcome you, then, to this agricul tural council aud institute, to our heartiest sympathies, to our homes, to such coopera tion work as wo may here find to do, having frr its object to lift tho standard of agricul ture, tq ennoble the farm and farm life, and as far as in us lies raise our good old Green Mountain state in tho development of all her industrial sources to that high piano where her people havo always stood, oven in the very foremost among her sister states. After Mr Bascom had conoludcd this ad dress ho read a very interesting paper upon "Tbo dignity of the farmer's calling and the safety to its votaries from tho depressing times being experienced by thoso engaged in other callings." Tho reporter for the board did not arrive until Mr 11. had finished read, ing his paper, and is Indebted to tho Globe for tho following abstract, and also to the same paper for their report of Mr Bascom's address of welcome, at given by their excel lent reporter, Mr Ormebco. Ho said that in the hard times they should be thankful that thoy were farmers ; while the mails brought daily accounts of failures In almost every branch of business, the farmers have an unfailing capital iu their green hills and broad valleys. The speaker considered tbo hard times not to be the ro suit or high tnxes, or of tbo high price of labor, but of reckless extravagance, and tbis period of rest aud suspension is a good timo to review past errors aud inaugurato a sim pler style of living. Farming is but just out of its pioneer state. Tho first settlers in this section of country cleared the forests, raised wheat, wheeled it to Albany, and profited by it. But among their descendants sprang up a love or caso and luxury, which the soil, not retaining its virgin productiveness, was una ble to supply. Hcnco new methods of tilling became necessary, and to learn theso new methods wo are met. The fanner hould always remember that whatever disadvantage thero may be to bis profession, the farm is the most royal place to rear the boy.s and girls who aro to mako tho jdeal men and women of our ideal future. Farming is not a poor business, because of bard work ; thcro is bard work iu every occupation, and that of the farm briugs health and long life. In conclusion, Mr Bascom said that tho farmers or Orwell wcro not entirely satisfied with their method of working, and thanked tho board Tor bringing them light and knowl edge of a belter way. Mr Bascom's address was followed by ono from Mr Ueorgo Kimball or Orwell upon "Farming as a Profession." A collego education is not essential to tho success of tho farmer. Examples were given where a college education had proved detri mental, and in contrast to a rigorous practi cal education. We do not plead for igno ranee. A liberal education is not only desirable, but essential to tho highest sue ccps ; but we dd object to spoiling a good cobbler to make a poor lawyer, or to depriv ing tho old farm of a good husbandman to mako a very indifferent shepherd in the Lord's pasture. Industry, patience, perse vcrLtice, with good business habits, are tho qualities that tall, but tbe farmer should not bo constantly in a hurry. A practical knowledge of farm work is essential to sue cem, and the larm is a good place to acquire sucu Knowledge. Acquire as good an edu cation for your calling as poi.iible, but tlo not neglect tins loumlation. Tho tanner nhoutd learn to bo an independent thinker, to bavo a mind of his own. I lo should nlso engage in such spocial brauchus.of farming as aro best fitted to his special circum stances, and cooperation with his fellow farmers is very important. The farmer should carry into his profession (he right spirit. I . Hi .1 i I.;... .ii i . , at mn ticujiu ujiuii iiiiii ivnuiuur u!.t employ ment is ennobling or degrading. Tho farmer who acts or feels t atheisashamnd of his pro fession belittles himself and shows a want of conlmou sense. The farmer should bo a progressive man and ready to keep pace with this age of improvement, ready to relieve tho farm work of its drudgery aud toil, In tho discussion following Mr Kimball's paper, Mr O. II. Hubbard of SnrinuGeld re- jolct'd to havo this subject discussed ns ably as it hau uccti. it was the lault ot. tanners that they did nnt uphold,' the dignity of their calling. No calling' was 'more sure to prove honorable and profitable if intelligently fol lowed. It was a great mistake to turn our attention nnd allow the attention of our sons to bo turned to other callings and profes-. sions. Ilev M. L. Soveranco or Orwell thought ho was enough of a farmer to bo permitted to speak. Whilo ho would not dissent in tho main from the ideas advanced this morn ing he would dissent from tho idea that au education uufittcd a man for any calling ; tho man that would mako n gool practical shep herd would mako a good minister, Farmers ought to bo willing to give somo of their sons to be educated and to fill somo of the most houorablo profussloni. Mr Hubbard thought the speaker bad struck the key note. Mr E. S. Barber; As farmers wo wish to mako mi objection to ono poi'ut in Mr Kim- ball s paper, lho pcaker would not cuu cato the most brilliant son, but the duller ono if ho had sons that had this difference., Mr (J. (J. Pringlo would Mihscribo to most that had been said ; bo would pay that the timo has come wheu education must be more specific ; a very diilcrcnt education was needed to fit our sons for farmers, than will fit them to bceomo good lawyciH. 1). A. Forbes of Orwell was pleased to hear the thoughts of tho last speaker ; he believed with .Mr I'rlnglo that our sons want a peculiar education to fit them to stay on the farm and develop tho greatest mental fitness aud strength to make their stay there ennobling, happy and prolitable. Prof Seely: Itinht education' cannot in jure a man for his calling ; a general cJucu tion is very desirable, and In the end a special fitting for somo special calling. Ex- aniplcs wero suggested to tho mind of tho speaker whero loud parents had sent boys to collego, that would not be likely to succeed upon tbo farm, and they Miould not bo ills appointed that they did not receive a great benefit fioin u classical education, as their1 fond hopes hud anticipated. It was not within the provinco or college presidents or professors to make hickory of basswood ; thoy miuht possibly put on a thin veneer. Mr O. Horaco Hubbard, a tucmbor of tho board, then mado nn address upon "The Urass Drop." In this state tho grass crop must always be tho most important. Hu who made .'the often-quoted remark or "ho who mado two spears of grass grow whero ono grew before was a puDtio bcneiactor" was a wise man In ttie better cultivation ol tho crass cron lies our success. Wo usually make tbe grass crop secondary to the grain crop ; bcreln lies our mistake ; wo do not give tho inoit tin nortant crop our special attention. It would be well to adopt a different system ; If we would stock our land with the application of manure instead of taking off (he strength of die mauuro with a crop ol gram we should find that plan much more profitable His own experience with such a system as is usually practiced bad proved that the grain so raised cost more than it wag worth. By Changing to such a system as had been named be bad doubled the grass crop upon bit farm Grain docs not protect the young grass ; tho cateh was moro certain without it. From late fall and early spring seeding he bad always got at least ono good crop of graas tbo tirrt Boason and, in some years, two crops. Saw redtop and timothy in the fall aud clover in tbo spring. The seed should be sown by hand, after mixing with damp ened sawdust, it could then be sown faster and mere successfully, oven in a high wind, if thero is a good turf top-drcssiog is excel lent. The best timo is just after the hay is cut off, nnd the mauuro should bo in a fine condition. A small amount, even five loads to the acre, will be found valuable. This way is better thau to put large amounts of manure to a small amount of land to raise grain crops, lho last plan will tako too long time to go over' tho entire farm. A good plan, if the meadow1, was producing but little, was to plow doep'io-thc late summer or early rail, aud top drug and sow immedi ately to grass seed, The mora valuable srasa is clover: it draws much or its nutriment from the alr.- It fits tho land better to raise wheat; lauds n tho neighborhood of Syracuse have Dro- duced groat crops of clover and wheat for soveuty years with no manuro but plaster. The manure from clover hay Is the most val uable. He though timothy was over-estimated. Glover does not exhaust tho Foil as other grasses, lledtop makes an excellent and nutritious hay, but with him it docs not take easily; thought perhaps the ranker growiug timothy crowded it out, but ho al ways sowed it. Juno grass yielded a very irrht crop, but on dry soils it was one of tho best. His cews do better on early-cut Juno grass than on any other. His experience iu orchard grass was confined to only last year. -Mr uncover, trom an expencuco ot twelve years, thought that It the most valuable. It should bo cut very early or it is worthless. lie Miould sow a largo quantity of it iu tho spring. Hungarian grass is valuable in dry seasons. Fodder corn is also useful for tho Value purpose, and ho had found it exceed ingly valuable wlicn pastures (ail. It was a great mistake to graze the mowing lands nfter haying; he belicvpd the best way was to keep stock out of tho meadows entirely. It was also a great mistako to mow gra93 too close, especially the coarso growiug varieties. It may be late to talk about cutting grass early, but he thought tarmcrs did not properly appreciate how early it should be cut. Mr Scott of Jraf tsbury cut his before it heads out, and with warm stable makes as good butter, and as largo quantity as in sum mer. Hay is cured too much ; it docs not hurt as much as most suppose if it heats a little. Hay tedders aro very useful ; be would as soon do without his mower as without his tedder. Olover may be cured better in two days with a tedder than in thrco without, and oftentimes this difference in timo saves the crop, and the prico of tho tedder may thus be saved on lartre farms in one dav. Tuesday Afternoon. Mectinc called to order by the chairman, S. II. Bascom, Esq. Tho discussion of the subject under consideration at the time ol adjournment in tho morning was resumed. Mr h. . llarbcr of ltenson would state that his soil was clay; ho thought dry clay lands were litllo benebted by top-dressing, he tound the best results from top-dressing loam aud wet lands. He thought the dry clay lands should be plowed and stocked with a goad coat of manuro and grain. Mr II. It. ioune ol Urwcll said bis soil was olay, and wero benefited more by plow ing and seeding with' grain than by top dressing. Mr U. h. Abel of Orwell said bis experi ence iwith clay soil was' similar to that of Mr Jiarber. He mauured very heavily when he stocked, bo rowed a half bushel of grass seed per acre, except when he sowed redtop ; of this he used more, lie thought tho best way was to miinuro heavily on greensward and semi 'or stock on that. Mr F. Ward of Orwell would differ from1 Mr Huhhard a little in regard to stocking laud. Ho thought it best to stock after a crop of corn with wheat, never sowed any lover. He had good success with plowing greensward, taking off a light crop of oats and putting on about filteeu loads ot manure per acre in' September nnd stocking with grass seed, his toil was a heavy, dark loam, not a clay. Used coarse manure, did not seed so heavily as come, thought it very desirnblo that tho roil should be well pulver ized; thought tint a great means of success in stocking. Mr hlos Hay of Orwell had been hand ling clay, a sticky one, had had better suc cess in stocking after only one plowing, sowing the seed on the stubble alter tho" grain crop was taken off, working tho land with a wlaol harrow to a very nno tilth when the seed was brushed iu. Mr II. T. Cults of Orwell said his experi ence had been like Mr Kays, had found great benefit from living wheel harrows. He would liko to hear of some ono who had usmI plas ter ; by accident ho had used a small amount on a piece of land ho had sold siuec, and it had great effect to increase the crop of grass on a dry clay knoll. Mr Y. 11. banlord ot Urwcll bad tound it muol) better to stock in the tall than in tbe spring, had found no benefit from top-dress ing lq the spring, but had in the tall. Thought good pulverization a great secret of success in stocking. He thought a mixture of orchard grass, and somo of the very ear liest clovers would mako an excellent hay. 31 r 0. (2, Priui'lo gavo a description of orchard grass, Tbo seed, ho thought, was apt lo prove abortive, nnd thereforo a great deal should ha used. He was afruid it would not bo successful on dry clay lauds, it would thriye better iu the shade than in such soils. Ho thought it was very desirable, and would prove valuable iu deep moist loam soils. Mr Hubbard in answer to an inquiry stated that it would last ou n good soil a number of years without recocdmg, 1 wag very different from quack grass that was thought by many to bo tbo same. . Mr lYmgle in answer to an inquiry said not less thau a half bushel of timothy should be sown on an acre, some of the plauts would bo feeble, but if this amount was used, a sufficient quantity of strong cues, would bo lett. Mr J. H. Mead of West llutland then read a paper upon "Sheep Husbandry," an adttract ot which baa already been published, Ool E. A. Stowcl) of Cornwall theu read a, paper upou "Tho Coming Horse for Ver mont." , The experionco of Gvo years havo not changed my views as to raising horses, but strengthening thoso I advanced five years acq before- n meeting or this board. Tbo Morgan horse had, been the most useful that could have been bred for his timo ; as an ex ample of what was demanded for a spcoial purpoiQ ; as had been bred up in other sec tions of the oouutry to satisfy tho demands for their needs, But man's iiitelligeoce will tneot tho demands of the times, although mistakes in breeding will be long In, rectify, log. Being used to ono Idea will prove dis astrous tq breeders as it has to nations. To breed Morgan's bow in Vermont, U to be behind tbe times, but wo should seek a larger, faster and more remunerative brood. A largo majority of horses upon the turf have been large, a large number of examples of which wero namod. For long, fast drives, size, bone, substance and steadinoss aro now wanting ; this last is very essential. In a number of states the conclusion has been arrived at, that the breeding of trotting horsoj distinctively ia a failure. We cannot brcod tho large draft horso, that must be left to tho cheap lands of tho West. A farmer cannot afford to breed the trotter ; tmall horses will not do even if they are fast. The breeder finds himself with the culls whilo the jockey and trainer will get the prizes, large, floe colored, stylish horses. We should not breed Morgans, Blaekhawks or Ethan Al iens ; they lack size, bone and speed. De scendants of Hambletoumnj, Messanger and Clays were tho horses that must be tbe ones in demand. The value of such horses when in Vermont have not been appreciated until after death. Breeding small horses with small horses intensifies the size. The Morgan horses have found many Messenger and Ab daljah marcs from which they had acquired their reputation for speed. Tho old notion of breeders' of tbe large dam and small sires was now getting qut of favor with horso breeders. The best results would now be reached by using large sires nnd small dams, such breeding would giro us the best results. Use largo stallions of the classes named upon your Morgan, Blackhawk and Ethan Allen mares, and your reward issuro; the results attained wilt not only bo satisfactory but tho profits sure. Tuesday Evening. The meeting was called to order by tho chairman, Mr Bascom. P. E. Pease, Esq, of Burlington read a paper upon "Increasing Danger of Mistako in Choice of Vocation." Ho would regard the mission of this board ono of great importance. Tbo tilling of tho soil lays at the very foundation of all sooiety. Somo one has said that the American laborer was almost obsolete. Humble employments wcro at a discount. Men are in the places they do not belong ; much of this was duo to the late disturbed condition of our country. People are trying to keep up a show, and appear to be what they aro not. The slow gains of rural occupations no longer charm or attract our young men and women. Tho remedy for this is a broader and better intel ligence. Some may think that the possession' of this intelligence unfit these young people for rural pursuits. The exceptions aud ex amples of a liberal culture aro tho only ones that have hitherto been brought forward to our view. What advantages have been derived to agriculture from this broad culture and in telligence. Somo have derived great benefit from these investigations by hybridization of plants ; the crossing or potatoes have proved an element of great profit to tho country, and to those that had produced new varieties by this process. By thought and praotical experiments, a neighbor had reaped great pecuniary benefit by learning to cultivate the cranberry. Trado and commerco had drawn from tho agricultural fields and voca tions, and this great and over crowding of the trades and professions was working a great reaction, and there was now great dis aster, distrust and psnio in all branches of trade. Tho great act of Lincoln in emancipating and elevating millions of a down trodden race was working great influence on all in dustrial pursuits. Too mush land was going nut of cultivation, and was operating to much te thin tho population of whole neigh borhoods. The universal shrewdness ot the ankee had overreached itself. Lit us take a new departuro by educating tho young to see the great difference between tbe calling of the farmer and other callings ; let us point out to them tbe degradation, the exhausting labors, tho great number ot lailures to be met iu the other callings, iu the mercantile and other fields of labor. An ideal of farm life was givca whero intelligent refinement dispensed a generous hospitality, and, a disgusting example of vil lage me was given in contrast, that exhib ited, in vivid colors tho refining and elevating influeuco of tho former, and the debasing iiitlueoces of tho latter. Mr Edward Cooant of Randolph, itate superintendent pf.tohools, then mado an ad dress upoii "The Education needed by tho Parmer, and where to get it. The old statute law that tbe teacher should bo able to teacn reading, writing and arithmetia was not.a loog, but a very com prehensive one. In England, formerly, the few wcro educated and the many were not ; tbo latter had only tho right to live and labor; but light bad broken in upon that nation, and out of this had risen a mighty influeuco that had come across the mighty ocean and influenced our fathtrs when they enacted the laws that demanded that, every man should havo the privilege of learning how to read bis own language, as well as write, aud how ro hguro up bis own affairs and keep bis own accounts, The farmer needs tbe education as a man and as a citi zen, as he is both. Tbe education the farmer needs is, first, reading, that be may read not only of general, but of special subjects relat ing to his calling. He should have such an education as will eoable him to keep records of his acts, and such as to enablo him to write dowu aud tell hia experience, and if called upon, to state them, and after having so stated them, to leave a consciousness that he has staled them decently and in order ; that ho should bo so educated that ho shall be ablo to figure out and reckon out his pro cesses, ami ir ho chooses to be so educated as to enable him to pursuo tho higher branohes of mathematics. He should alto bo educated in geography, history and the laws of gov ernment. To this point the education ot tho farmer is not so different from that of the mechanic, but tbe farmer should from this point receive a somewhat special cducatiou, to fit bim to successfully follow his calling. Geology, chemistry, botany, anatomy and physiology were named as branches of study that wero so necessary. Whero should such au education bo sought? Wo havo a very large part of the population to educate. A largo part of this edueatiou must be received at home, and no tingle school or college can educate all this great population, as this education, or tho large part of it, is wanted fpr all tho body politic, and it should bo sought iu tho common school, and tbeso schools should be mado adequate to give such a complete oduoation. They are pot now adequate to furnish such a traiulug as tbe farmer needs to properly fit him to best follow bis calling iu an intelligi ble and profitable inauncr. These lessons should be taught at an early age. Children's minds should bo at an early ago directed in such directions as will puke them interested in thp several subjects that interest the far mer, and a knowledge of which is Indispenta ble to tho farmer to follow his calling to attain trje highest success, We, the people, should sco that our common schools aro made competent to gjve such an education. But higher schools, lets in number, are needed to fit the farmer, as well aa others, to best adorn their professions, trades, or call (09lat4oaieoa4pta.f' ' v