The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1888-11-29
TO RESTORE VERMONT.


nor of three commissioners to collect
statistics in regard to the manufactur-
ing and agricultural interests Of the
State, and report to the next Legislature.
They are also to be instructed to adver-
tise the farming advantages of the State
in the hope of obtaining occupants for
deserted farms. II the commissioners
so appointed should extend their inyes
LEGATIONS beyond facts to causes, as they
doubtless would, and give intelligent
study to the problems involved, the
Republican thinks their report would
be all the more valuable, not alone for
Vermont, but other New England States
AS everybody knows, agriculture has
not been in a prosperous condition OF
late in any New England State.
Attention was called some time ago to
the fact that in one town ludlow of
more than ordinary advantages as an
agricultural community, no less than
twelve farms were deserted, and an
effort had been made to have the Legis-
lature authorize the exemption from tax
alton for term of years anybody who
would occupy these homes,
We think, however, that the Republi-
can is mistaken when it says that in the
State as whole, agricultural wealth
has been steadily diminishing, and in
the decade of 1S70-S0 was practically al
stanGstIll, as compared with an in
crease in 1S60-70. Vermont has not de-
clined it has simply failed to keep pace
with other states, whittier so many OI
its sons haye gone.
A very interesting article in the Bur
lington Free Press, by Mr.. NJ. o. Howe
brings together much valuable informa,
tion from the census, which shows thai
Vermont still preserves high ranl
among the agricultural states, and arti-
Giles by Hon. F. D. Douglas recently
published in the Herald show easily
this rank might be increased. From
Mr.. Howe's article we take the follow
ing statements:
Vermont has larger average number
of mich cows to each farm than any
other State. 1t has about twice as many
as the average number to each farm il
the United States, Vermont has also
more mich cows in proportion to the
number of persons engaged in agricul
ture than any other State,
Vermont makes about three and one
half times as much butter to each farm
as the average.to each farm in th'
than the average to each farm in any
other State IN the Union. Butter made
in factories is not included in this esti
mate. 1t was about one-twenty-seventt
part of the total product in the census
year.
Vermont produces about four anC
one-half times as much butter tn eact
person occupied in farming as the aver
Al nd 4.
more to each person so occupied thar
any other State.
With the exception of New York the
cheese made in Vermont averages more
to each farm than any other State. II
there is no error in the census figures
New York produces nearly half of al
the cheese made in the country.
In comparing products according tc
the number of farms it should be said
that the average size of farms in Yer
mont is about the same as the average
for the United States, the average fol-
Vermont being 1877 acres, and for the
United States 1874 acres. The size oil
farms in the newer States and Terri
tories is larger than in the older States
In California the farms aver ge AZ;
acres.
BY the census of 1880 the whole mum
Der of cattle of all kinds averaged tC
each farm in
Iowa.
Vermont neutrality-suspicious.. ..............'l
New York, Missouri and Kansas, each. .......l
United States and Illinois, each ................
Pennsylvania. Connecticut, Maine, Wisconsin
and Dakota, each. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. l
Massachusetts,, New Hampshire. Ohio Mime
sota Indiana and West Virginia, each
Michig an e. Observation-Disclosures.
The estimates are given in whole mum
bers but are intended to be accurate
within a fraction less than one-half
Thus the average number of cattle L
each farm in Vermont, stated accurately
would be II "A; in Connecticut ~.
will be seen that Vermont is near thu
head of all the States named above, il
the average number of cattle to farm
Texas and California, with their large
farms and immense herds on the lange
average larger number to each farm
The total number of cattle on farm
in the United States enumerated by thu
census of 1880, averaged TO each perso'
engaged in agriculture At. The average
to each person engaged in agriculture il
Vermont was 73.
The value of all kinds of live stool
averaged to each farm in
Vermont ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.
The United States ,...................... 3I4 U
Vermont above the average in the
United States................S 90
Vermont exceeds each of 81 States il
the average value of live stock to eacl
farm,
The average of all kinds of live stool
to each person engaged in agriculture
was as follows:
Vermont OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. ,....... $500
United States. ...,............. ......... 1872 0
Vermont above the average in the
United States. ..............&1lO
Vermont was once, according to ex
tent of territory the greatest wool pro
ducing State in the Union, and it still
ranks above the most of the states TO
this product though its focks have beel
reduced TO one-third their former mum
Der.
One of the most valuable of all farm
productions, and one that often yield
more net profit to the farmer than al
others is hay. There are very few,
any, districts of equal extent in tn
United States that are more productiv
of hay and grass than Vermont.
If the census is right, Vermont aver
ages nine tons of hay to farm NOR,
than any other State except California
The average yield of hay to a farm il
the United States is a little less thai
nine tons, The yield in Vermont is 2
tons tons to farm more than the aver
age for the United States. Vermont
averages 10 tons more than the averag
in any other State except California ant
New York.
Vermont averaged to each person en-
gagged in agriculture five tons more ha,
than any other State.
Nearly every farm in Vermont has
patch of woodland or forest, The Woo
and timber obtained therefrom is o
considerable value, and the convenienc,
of having it near at hand is very great
The census shows the value of the fOres
products of the farms, not including
lands operated by lumber dealers Of
manufacturers of lumber. The tire,
states having the highest average valut
of forest products to each farm are New
Hampshire, 1858; Vermont sos; Con
necticut, $40 Excepting one State, Yer
mont, has, therefore, the highest aver
age value of forest products to farm
The average value of forest products t
each person engaged in agriculture il
Vermont is $32; New Hampshire, $40
Massac husetts. SEQ; Maine $27; New
York, 1923; Connecticut, 1874; Michigan
500; Wisconsin. $50; Indiana, $l7; Iowa
$l1; Illinois, So; Kansas, So; Missouri
and Minnaaota zach S1Q. Nabraska 90