News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1886-02-25
Vermont Farming.

At meeting of the board of agri
culture held recently in Grand lsl'
county, Mr.. Douglas said substantial
ly: The present and prospective o
Vermont agriculture is not encourag
ing. Western competition and west
ern overproduction, and cheap trans
portation are factors in the agricultur
al problem which we cannot afford t
overlook. The western farmer /:
practically nearer our principal east
ern markets than we of Vermont
The results are, our markets are flood
ed and broken, while labor is cOmpar'
atively high. There is a general anC
too truthful complaint that farming
does not pay. Low prices temp
farmer, to buy what they should raise
themselves. Consequently there is s
constant and ruinous outflow of mon
ey from the State for the agricultural
productions of other sections. We
as people spend millions of dollars
annually for things which must ane
can be- better produced here. Let us
examine the list. We buy grain in al
its forms, seeds, beef, pork, lard, fuel
lights, fruit trees and fruit, and ever
paw untold thousands of dollars fol
the manure with which we fertilize oul
soils. When we contemplate the vast
aggregate expense of all this, the
wonder is that we have not been finan-
This on6 he
changed, and this tremendous outflow
stopped, if Vermont intelligence and
enterprise can be properly enlisted in
the work. We must and can raise
more and buy less. We farmers can
and should raise our own grain,
while feeding much more than we dc
now, aud that with a constantly in
creasing fertility in our farms. This
is not theory, but a demonstrated fact
What is true of an average Vermont
farm, is true of the State, where the
same enterprise and skill are en-
ployed. The State is the aggregation
of individuals. The speaker pointed
out the natural aids which the Yer.
mont farmer has in his work F.; showed
conclusively that by the hel Up of these
in connection with proper rotation.
and such appliances as will enable
him to return all the plant food pro
duced upon the farm, to the soil, ex
cepting that sold in the form Of dairy
products, beef, pork, ETC., an increased
fertility must result. The larger tn;
crop the more plant food; the more
plant food produced the greater the
improvement. We must have two OBJ
jects in farming, viz: the production
of large crops and large manure-fields
He said we must systematic agricul-
ture and organize success as in other
callings. A system should be adop
ted which is within the reach of all
one which is inexpensive, and will
pay from the outset; system by the
aid of which our young men can buy
farms and pay for them; one which
while it supplies the wants of the farm
will constantly add to its fertility.
The principles of fertilization were
then discussed, and the details o
what he believed to be a correct prac
tice pointed out, and the reasons foI
their adoption. By such system
he had reason to know, by practica
experience, the average Vermont far
mer can raise his own grain, while
feeding much more than he now does
and that with a constantly increasing
fertility in his soil.
Feeding for manure was then taker
up, and the manurial value of differ
ent kinds of stock food compared. i
was shown that by proper selection
of crops, and stock food, large in
crease in plant foods might be secured
with corresponding increase in prof
its. The general impression thai
grain raising is necessarily attended
with deterioration is a mistake. Nc
farm crop raised when returned tc
the soil will do this. 1t is its sale OIL
waste of the manure when fed that
deteriorates. The appliances of saw
ing manure, time of application, anC
also the question Of farm machinery
was talked of.
He believes that we must use more
machinery, substitute horsepower fol
man-power, and that it can be done
successfully in Vermont. Not with
equal advantage on all farms, but to {
great extent on all farms which should
be cultivated at all. Success in fu-
ture must be question of intelli
gence, energy and economy.