The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1890-02-13

gentlemen, the times are little out OF
joint for the farming class and the
sooner we realize and face the fact the
better it will be for all concerned.
He named some of these facts as (a)
the legacy inherited from the civil war
with the rebound in values following,
while the extrsvagant habits and modes
of living were kept up; (b) the wish TO
become rich; (c) monied Goldfish aris-
tocracy; (d) unequal taxation and op-
presslve rates of transportation; (e) hum
bug investment and insurance COM
psnies, including counterfeit butter; "
great monopolies and trusts Of all kinds;
(g) swarm of high salaried state and
federal officisls-Ihese will do for q
sample oil the whole, be the same more
or less. And the burden of maintaining
all this lazlness and wickedness comes
upon the tillers of the soil. The farmer
finds them all. What wonder that I'VE
do inmardly groan, being burdened."
What wonder our farms are abandoned,
deserted or neglected. So that we have
to offer premiums to get foreign immi-
grants to settle on our soil. The
speaker forgot to add that these immi-
grants are only asked to stop and take
the places of Vermont farmers going
West.l Is il not time that we as intelli-
gent farmers studied the cause, the con-
sequences and remedy for these evils.
The speaker quoted from the Providence
Journal an article, the substance Of
which has been printed in the BANNER,
as to thh remedy, ~ Farmers should
take more active part in political and
civil affairs. In this way taxation will be
equalized through the influence farmers
may exert in the legislature. ~ What
about Vermont farms, the so-called
abandoned lands, which comprise about
four per cent. OF our farm lands? Those
on high and rocky hills should never be
reclaimed, but let US encourage the re-
settlement of all that ere fit for families
to live upon, either by our own children
or by immigrants from other lands; the
Swedes, Norwegians, Danes, Scotch, and
some others. These make good citizens;
let them come, there is room enough,
but be sure to save all the old Puritan
stock and increase it by all lawful
means.
Our occupied farms are growing in
productiveness and value. In spite of
our relative loss in population, scarcity
of farm help and other discouragements
the farms of Vermont hold out nobly in
the value of their productions. In cattle,
sheep horses and swine we are well up
with other states of the Union according
to our area. In the yield of grain per
acre we are far ahead of the average.
Flfty-six per cent. of Vermont lands are
produc i've and twenty-five per cent. is
woodland, while tie average of the
whole United States is only Is per cent.
productive and 10 per cent. woodland.
Of our farm lands % per cent. is tillage,
80 per cent. gress lands, 81 per cent.
woodland, with less than two per cent.
waste lands In yield of corn, per acre,
Vermont stands at the head. and in the
yield of oats she stands third in the
Union. In wheat only few of the
ates equal us in the yield per acre, and
those are the Rocky Mountain states
and territories where only the best of
the land is settled The actual money
value Of production per acre in YER
mont exceeds that of most of the states
according to the Album of Agricultur.
al Statistics, issued by the Secre ary of
Agriculture, June 10th, 1889, based on
the average Of ten years. Our farms
that have been taken care of are as valu-
able as they ever were III We travelled
through the West and Northwest and
South, and except q few sections Of New
Maryland and | have seen no better
land than Vermont.
This splendid tribute to the State of
Vermont and summary of its resources
and agricultural possibilities was re.
ceived with applause, as it deserved
FRIDAY EVENING SESSION.
Nj. w. DAVIS of the Board spoke of the
Wastes ON Farm"
The geological formation soil gives
one of the most varied and fertile soils of
any State IN the Union. The farmer Of
Vermont has been unmindful of soil and
his crops, and to-day is crying
out that farming does not pay.
While her former reputation stood most
envlable Of any of the States in her
sheep industry, going to the old country
and importing and bringing TO Vermont
TO the town of which l am citizen and
there under the care of Vermont shep-
herd, with Vermont soil, produced q
sheep which taken to the old country at
Hamburg Exposition, took the first prize
in the world. Horses, she stood at the
head, and men in war, IN peace and in
National council, none other equalled.
Now the cry is, depopulation, desertion
of farms, farming poor business, don't
pay.
To remedy this my associates for the
past two days have been telling you to
produce more and cheaper, make two
blades of grass grow where but one does
now, cows to produce 200 or more
pounds of butter where now only 1870,
and now am here this evening 10 tell
you to take care of what you have al.
ready produced, by stopping the waste
in your business.
The first great waste is the inadaptation
of the man to his business. II he is
adapted TO it he will live; If he lives he
will make it success. Now if be Is q
farmer he must have an idea of what he
wants to do, and work for judgment and
discretion to secure that end. II a dairy
man, be must select the farm adapted
to that business or he will make waste.
In the growing, sweet succulent food for
summer or winter, pure water, accessible
buildings located convenient to lessen
labor and meet all needs for the purpose
assigned. So with the house and all the
out buildings constructed in q warm,
comfortable way in every respect for the
stock for there is a waste almost un-
measurable when we consider the i'm
properly boarded leaving large cracks at
Zach board, when considering the num-
Der would make large opportunity for
cold to get into the stables there, for
wasting the use of hay and green to pro-
duce the warmth by that neglect of
boards and nails at so trifling an ex.
pense.
There is a great waste in irregulaTity
in feeding Of cattle in the selection of
the wrong animal for the purpose
wanted. Keeping cows that will pro-
duce Is per cent. cream, while others
produce 30 per cent. 10 spaces OF cream
in Cooley Creamer, while others pro-
duce 6.
Great waste in an unsuitable team for
the farm and tools. Great waste in the
want of care of tools, not housing or
painting; waste in home fertilizers of
rhe farm by being exposed to the caves
water, sun, wind, etc. want OF absorb
ants to hold the liquid which is so per
cent. of the whole; should have barn
cellars for manure, or if thrown out q
lean-to roof to cover. Horse manure
should be kept from burning up, saved
by keeping wet. stirring by hand or by
hogs, or applying plaster; absorbants in
all stables of kinds, calves and pigs to
exterminate the manure pile as well as
to save the liquids. Utilize the sink
spout and house slops, etc., earth, for
the heavy waste in the wrong applica-
lioD by not putting it on the soil in the
fall and winter, and spreading at the
same time and not leaving it in heaps.
i IT.