85 



W. Stewart: James B. Angell, presidcMit State Agricultural College; Peter Collier, 

 secretary of the board, and the following persons as appointed by the governor and 

 confirmed by the senate: A. B. Ilalbert, of Essex; Charles H. Heath, of Plainfield; 

 Frederick Holbrook, of Brattleboro; Pitt W. Hyde, of Castleton; Z. E. Jameson, of 

 Irasl)urg, and N. B. Sanford, of \Vhiteriver Junction. 



The act of the general assembly which provided for this board also conditioned that 

 the board shall hold at least one business meeting each year and as many more as they 

 deemed expedient, to which the people of the State shall be invited to participate for 

 the investigation and discussion of matters relating to agriculture, horticulture, manu- 

 factures, and mining, and a sum not exceeding $2,500 was appropriated. 



During the two years this board was in office nine public meetings were held in 

 different towns of the State, at which the sul)jects of fruit culture, grass culture, practi- 

 cal agriculture, fertilization, education, manufacturing, and mining were presented by 

 experts on the different subjects and thoroly discust by people present at the meetings. 



From the first the board had the hearty cooperation of the best farmers of the State, 

 also those interested in the different branches covered l)y the act creating the board. 



In 1873-74 nineteen public meetings were held by the board, at all of which the 

 attendance was large and great enthusiasm shown by the general public. Papers on 

 subjects pertaining to agriculture were read and discust, including dairying, fruit 

 culture, sheep, cattle, and horse breeding, farm buildings, stock feeding, sugar mak- 

 ing, etc. 



In 1875-1882 meetings were held thruout the State, usually with good attendance, 

 and much interest taken in them by the public. 



In 1883-84 forty-seven meetings were held and the number of addresses given at 

 these meetings and under the direction of the board was 731. 



In 1885-86 sixty-four meetings were held and the number of addresses given was 922. 



In 1894 the amount to be expended by the board was raised and limited to $5,000, 

 and the board was given jurisdiction over the importation or introduction of horses and 

 other domestic animals into the State such as had been exposed to, or believed to be 

 infected with, any contagious disease. They were given power to examine the ani- 

 mals in the State supposed to be infected and under certain conditions to kill or 

 quarantine the same. 



The report of 1894-95 shows twenty-seven public meetings, the subjects presented 

 and discust covering all branches of farming and stock raising. 



In 1897 twenty-seven meetings were held thruout the State, from one to three days 

 each, having an attendance of from 150 to 600 people. In 1898 twenty-seven meetings 

 were held, in 1899-1900 sixty-three, and in 1901 forty-three. 



In 1902 the general assembly past an act constituting the governor, the president of 

 the University of Vermont and State Agricultural College, and three persons appointed 

 by the governor and confirmed by the senate, and "who shall hold office for two years," 

 to constitute a board of agriculture, conditioned that the l)oard shall hold at least one 

 meeting in each county annually, and may employ such talent as lecturers as they 

 deem expedient. 



In 1903 forty-nine meetings were held, and the interest shown by the general public 

 was very gratifying to the board and the several persons who appeared as instructors. 



At the biennial session of the legislature of 1904 the governor appointed as the three 

 additional persons to serve for the ensuing two years George Aitken, of Woodstock; 

 Earnest Hitchcock, of Pittsford; and Dana H. Morse, of Randolph, as the members of the 

 board. These appointments were confirmed by the senate. At a meeting of the board 

 George Aitken was elected as the secretary, so that the board as now constituted consists 

 of His Excellency C. J. Bell, president; M. H. Buckham, of the University of Ver- 

 mont; George Aitken as secretary, and Earnest Hitchcock and Dana H. Morse. 



During the thirty-four years of its existence the board of agriculture of Vermont has 

 each year held its meetings and kept up its interest in the development of the agri- 



