FRANKLIN FARMERS' INSTITUTE. 341 



jury room ; and the subject of dairying was opened by a 

 paper on that subject by Mr. Barber of Bernardston. An 

 active debate then followed, in which were discussed the 

 different breeds of dairy cows, mode of keeping, and general 

 treatment. 



The merits of deep or shallow setting were also talked 

 over, and the " Cooley system " explained. 



The Institute then adjourned to Feb. 3, when it again met; 

 and the question of " The Economy of Farm Machinery " 

 was opened by a very suggestive paper by Mr. R. N. 

 Oakman" of Montague, favoring more employment of hand 

 labor. His assertion, that, on a small farm, haying could be 

 more economically done by hand labor than by the use of 

 machinery, provoked a very lively discussion. The uses 

 and advantages of machines generally, and of the different 

 machines in use, were earnestly canvassed. The Institute 

 then adjourned for a fortnight., Feb. 17 about seventy-five 

 members attended, the subject being dairying. A very 

 acceptable paper was read bj^ Mr. John M. Smith of Sun- 

 derland, on " The Products 'of Neat-Cattle." 



An extended discussion followed, illustrated by various 

 experiences of old butter-makers. 



The Cooley Creamery was shown ; and milk in a can 

 sixteen inches high, set six hours in ice-water, showed five 

 inches of cream to have risen in that time. 



The meeting was animated and satisfactory ; but the time 

 was felt to be too short for the subject, and the Institute 

 adjourned for a fortnight to have a fuller discussion on all 

 matters connected with the dairy. The Institute met Feb. 

 28, Avith over two hundred present, and was opened by an 

 address from Major Alvord of Easthampton, on "Dairy 

 Produce," replete with information and suggestions. An 

 earnest discussion followed on the manufacture of butter, 

 use of various dairy implements, and the keeping and feeding 

 of milch cows. A large number of dairy implements and 

 appliances were shown, for the instruction of those farmers 

 who had never seen them, and for strengthening the faith of 

 those who had. Prominent were the Cabinet Creamery and 

 a P} T ramidal Metallic Strainer, by Mosely & Stoddart of 

 Poultney, Vt. ; the Cooley Creamery, Davis's Oscillating 

 Churn, and Eureka Butter- Worker, by the Vermont Valley 



