Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1888-06-01
POSSIBILITIES OF VERMONT FARMS.
What is Needed to Make Them Pay-Large
Returns-A Simple Remedy,

IT, H. DOuElhs III tine Rutland Herald
The possibilities of Vermont agricultur
are yet unknown. Could the skill acuuir
ell and applied in the calling and practice
of the agrculturally educated farmers o
England and Germany, be adopted ant
applied to Vermont farming, it would re
suit IN a complete revolution in the de
partment of crop production among us
the annual rents paid for lands IN Eng
land are higher than lands of the sam,
natural characteristics and quality sci
for with us. Macaulny, in his history o
England, tells us that large portions q
the most valuable farm lands of thai
country were once exhausted and barrer
heaths. Some 10000 Geo acres of thes,
worn out lands have been reclaimed by
the educated skill of English farmers, and
now rival in productiveness the best farm
lands In the world.
But we need not look to foreign lands
for examples OF practical skill, which if
possessed and applied by the mass of
western Vermont farmers, would accom-
| plish like results for this locality. We
have in New England, if indeed we have
! not in Vermont, selt-educated. practIc II
farmers, who, If placed upon a so-called
| worn out farm in Champlain valley. Of
average natural productiveness, would
Wltnln 10 years quadrupie its present
! productive capacity, while the increased
! ptCunary returns would pay the cost of
the improvements from the outset
IT one-haIt OF the farms in this section
couIu ne brought up to one-hHf OF the
average capacity named, and this by i'm
proved skill, we should hear no more
complaints of the low price of farm lands
pf
men would better appreciate the advan-
tages OF old Vermont; the CAPITAL now
lowing West to aid in the DEVELOPMENT of
a competitive agriculture there would
mud employment here; every social edu-
catlonal and industrial interest would e
promoted, and Il bright prospect would
Jake the place OF the present gloomy out
look.
Tlis can never be accomplished by fol-
lowing on III the time-Worn ruts Of our
fathers.
There was not that necessity for educat-
ed sEltl III the early history of Vermont
agriculture as at present though the
want OF 1t led our fathers to the practice
OF That agricultural vandalism, stll con
tlIued ny some of their descendants.
which has resulted in the present depict
ed CONDITION of our soils. Their farms
We're hen rich III plant TODD and SUCCESS
with them was a question of muscle. an
pllcatlOn and frugaIity. While these are
sun important, because OF changed cundi-
lions another even more important factor
mas been brought into the problem, and
that is brains
10 restore an unproductive soil, to so
increase the amount and improve the
quallty and value of our products, while
we so reduce the cost of production that
we can successfully compete with our
western cousins in over-stOcked and
,aIIlhg markets, presents field for intel
leGyuai as well as physical employment
10 substitute hOrse-powt for hand
power Wherever practicable; to devise
anu practice Judlclou5 systems of crop
production; to breed farm stock up to
modern standards of perfection; to select
ana adapt that stock to the various uses
Tor which it is employed to adapt the
tatlohs used in such manner AS to &C
coilpIlsh the best results with the leas-
waste OF food and digestive energy: to
adapt the productions of the farm to the
ever changing and broader demands of
the markets; to crafty by an improved
quality the more fastidious tastes of CON
suners, and thereby create special de-
nahu, at high price, for the wares of
Individual prOducers-these, and scores of
IKE details, which demand the attention
OF Che progressive farmer, require more of
educated skill than our grandfathels ever
dreamed OF.
The failures in agricultural practice
among usare not usually due to want of |
lutellectual abllty, or general intelligence |
but rather to the fact that the enterprise |
Oh our farmers has been directed in other |
chah nels than that Of crop production, |
aud the development of their soils. Yer |
mont enterprise /. prOVerpial. Our State |
mas Il W Worldwide reputation for the pro |
uuctlon OF blooded stock, aud in the vari- |
Gus SpecFltles IN which our farmers have |
they have been wonderfully sue. !
r41 a.
'uie on tie part of the masses The |
average vermont farmer is as pIOVerbIai- |
~ uhSystematlc and wastetul of the Gle. |
hehts OF success in crop production as !
VI. our H"Cc' S~ful STOCK breeders are noted tor .
'heli systematic skill in breeding.
u i true that over pre- duction, CHEAP |
iSuHp"ftatlnn, etc, nave had Il damaging
lhHuenct. But HAD these been followed |
~ corresponding change il our aIricul-
lu'e, t"elr iLtlueuce would have been
countt!d- ted. The margin for improve
hieui -'-Jugh the Introduction of improv-
% y stems Tor crop production tine nitro
luctiuh OF LABOR saving machinery which
pre- ceded ana was the chief source of over
pfoutctlOn; the greatly reduced cost of
Ihlhlly ana farm supplies ; these opportuu-
'ltN are broad enough to counterhdlance
Il losses from the Influences which / have
named W nile these things have necessi-
Hleu change in farm practice, vhey
nave not neceS sarlly reduced the profits
u farming below those realized in time
past, when there WAS ready sale Tor
arms at twice their present market val
le.
If we double the productive capacity of
l farm by judlcious farming, we more
nan double the net profits derived from
+ cultivation, because of the fact that
he cost of production is reduced with
very ludlcious increase of yield per acre.
/ We double the net profits of our farm
ng, we shall theoretically double the
harket value of our FARMS and the actual
Increase IN value would not fall much
hort OF this. Vermont intelligence and
Enterprise may and should double our
'fescut farm profits. 1t was upon these
that | based the ussump-
lou III my first article, that the present
oW price OF farms in Champlan valley
eSults from causes which should be re-
moved, and for which defective agricul.
ure is chiefly responsible.
HORSE GOSSIP.
'Oiufl lTa ]