Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1888-06-01

farm products were from fifty 10 one hun
dred dollar, per acre, exclusive Of money
paid for animal food and fertilizers where
the sole reliance for income was from ord
nary crop production, and the sale Of prod
ucts resulting from the iudcious feeding Of
the crops
What would he the result in Western
Vermont Of the general application Of such
farming a. this II one-half of the farms
in this section could be brought up 10 one
half Of the average capacity named, aud
this by improved skill we should hear no
more complaints Of the low price of farm
lands and the scarcity Of buyers. our
young men would better appreciate the al
vantages Of old Vermont the capital now
flowing West 10 aid in the development Of
a competitive agriculture there would find
employment here every social educational
and industrial interest would be promoted,
and a bright prospect would take the place
of the present gloomy outlook
This can never be accomplished by follow
ing on in the time worn ruts Of our fathers.
Success in farming today is Just as surely
a question Of educated capacity as is sue
cess in the practice Of law or medicine
Medical quacks have succeeded in accumu-
ating money 80 have uneducated farm
ers. The opportunities for this in either
case are constantly growing less
There was not that necessity for educat-
ed skill in the early history Of Vermont az
riculture as at present, though the want Of
il led our fathers to the practice Of that ag-
ricultura vandalism, still continued by
some Of their descendants, which has re
suited in the present depleted condition Of
our soils Their farms were then rich in
plant food, and success with them was a
question Of muscle, application and frugal
ity. While these are still important, be
cause Of changed conditions another even
more important factor has been brought in
to the problem, and that is brains
To restore an unproductive soil, to so in
crease the amount and improve the quality
and value Of our products, while we SO re
duce the cost Of production that we can
successfully compete with our Western
cousins in over stocked and falling markets,
presents a field for intellectual as well as
physical employment
To substitute horse power for hand power
wherever practicable to devise and prac-
tice judicious systems Of crop production
to breed farm stock up 10 modern standards
Of perfection to select and adapt that stock
| 10 the various uses for which it is employed
! 10 adapt the rations used in such a manner
rs 10 accomplish the best results with the
least waste of food and digestive energy T.
adapt the productions of the farm to the
ever-changing and broader demands Of the
| markets 10 crafty by an improved quality
/ the more fastidious tastes of consumers, and
! thereby create a special demand, at "a higl
| price, for the wares of individual producer,
these. and scores of like details, which
demand the attention of the progressiv,
r. l.. / I'LL Al
our grandfathers ever dreamed of.
In speaking of education as applied t,
| agriculture. do not mean that Theoretical
/ brain training of the schools, without prac
teal application or physical development
which educates away from the farm an,
every other industrial calling ! refer t.
that combined scientific and practical edu
cation which embraces in its scope a SCUM,
physical development, business tact and en-
ergy, which enables the son to raise tn
mortgage on the old homestead and GU
young men without capital to buy farm
and pay for them. This is the kind of edu
cation which the present situation demands
and not that kid glove variety which cal
spend more money than a score of past gen
erations have accumulated
But | am not now discussing the question
Of agricultural education, nor do propos
to point out in detail Just how, when an
where this knowledge should be applied
would require a volume to do this it woul,
cover the whole field Of farm practice, i
each and every department / desire onl
to emphasize and impress the Importance O.
agricultural improvement, to show how
must be brought about, in what department
it is most needed, and point out some Of tn
means for its accomplishment.
The failures in agricultural practice anon
MS are not usually due TO a want of inte
lectual ability or general intelligence, bu
rather to the fact that the enterprise OF ou
farmers has been directed in other char
nels than that of crop production and tn
development OF their soil Vermont entei
prise is proverbal Our state has worlC
wide reputation for the production Of bloc,
ed stock, and in the various specalties
which our farmers have engaged they hav
been wonderfully successful But not
with general agriculture on the part of I'll
masses. The average Vermont farmer
as proverbially unsystematic and wastefl
of the elements of success in crop prOdu
ton as our successful stock breeders al
noted for their systematic skill in breeding
In this direction we must look for the eau,
Of depreciation in the productiveness of OF
soils, and to this decline in productivene
as the chief cause Of the decline in the ma
ket values of our farm lands
1t is true that over-p production, chea
transportation, etc, have had damagin
influence but had these been followed b
"A corresponding change in our agriculture
their influence would have been counterac
ed. The margin for improvement throug
the introduction of improved systems fC
crop production the introduction of labo
saving machinery, which preceded and WI
the chief source of over production Il
greatly reduced cost of family and far
: supplies these opportunities are broa
enough to counterbalance all losses fro
the Influences which have named Viii
these things have necessitated IA change
, farm practice, they have not necessari
reduced the profits of farming below tho
realized in time past, when there was
ready sale for farms at twice their prese
market value.
If we double the productive capacity
a farm by judicious farming we more thu
! double the net profits derived from its CT
tivation. because of the fact that the CO
of production is reduced with every luz
r cious increase Of yield per acre. If \
p double the net profits of our farming,
shall theoretically double the market val
}. of our farms, and the actual increase
value would not fall much short of tn
J. Vermont intelligence and enterprise m
y and should double our present farm prof
y 1t was upon these considerations that b'
ed the assumption in my first article, til
n the present low price of farms in Champla
!, valley results from causes which should
Il removed, and for which IA defective agricl
y ture is chiefly responsible.
XTl,;t;,.r NJ. 10 1909