Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1890-03-07
DAILY FARtllNG.
'hrtant Lecture In tho Winter
\ ,ur,e by Prof. j. w. Robertson.

Among all those who have made airying
special study of late years, there ia no ono
who has achieved greater success, and has
higher reputation as an authority on the
subject than Prof James w. Robertson of
Ottawa, dairy commissioner for the Domin-
ion of Canada. The announcement that he
would speak on Dairy farming in the
winter course for farmers at the University
of Vermont Wednesday afternoon attracted
goodly number of people interested in the
subject including number of ladies, all
of whom found the lecture one of absorbing
interest. Messrs William Chaplin of Mid
dlesex, VI. w. Davis of Westminster and
Il. c. Smith Of Pittsford, of tho State Board
of Agriculture, were among those present
After delay of half an hour or more the
speaker made his appearance and was intro
duced by President Buckham. Prof. Rob
ertson said:
| am very glad to come down FROM Can
ada to meet the people of Vermont. OF all
people in the world farmers can shake hands
and forget all minor differences. We have
common interest and Americans and
Canadians should join hands that each man
or woman may do the best that is in him or
her. If we can help each other in any
way We shall both be proGted. We in
Canada have in the past been very much
aided by men from this side of the line
who have given us their experiences ] am
not here this afternoon to try and give you
information, but rather to fill up your
minds that we may think together. New
/ England has done wonders in stirring up
/ this country. Farmers are everywhere
asking for more knowledge. ~ want to
know is the cry. The agricultural ex-
pertinent station is a school house for men
and women and so | speak with pleasure in
this building.
would like to show you the difference
between our way of conducting dairy hus-
bandry and that in vogue in Europe. In
our land we try to educate our farmers to
do their own thinking instead of doing the
servile work while some one else does the
thinking as is the case in Europe. Farmers
have come TO look NJ on themselves as hav-
ing been born for life of drudgery because
the work of the farmer has come to be 50
regarded in some quarters. Farmers are
the men who acquire the most skill They
have always lived under educational in
huences.
Every man is confronted at some time in
his life with the questions What shall |
eat or, Wherewithal shall | be clothed
Dairy husbandry is an occupation OF wide
range. 1t has in it the tilling OF Mother
Earth, that she may be made 10 give forth
dominion over all life. plant and animal.
The object of all farming is threcfod: T.
to provide food, . to maintain fertility.
that the soil may not be exhausted. aud 81
to obtain remunerative employment. Every
kind of food, except fish, comes in some
way from the soil. As farmers provide bet
ter food, they will have better markets and
get better prices. There are men who seem
to keep cows just for their society. Such
animals live on a man, instead of he on
them, should be the case. If man I'M
derstands the use and economy of animals
he must understand what food can he given
them at a profit. He must grow plants
that will best serve his purpose. So his
good Judgment must be exercised in the
selection Of the seed from which these
plants are to he grown. After the selec-
tion of the seed, intelligent cultivation and
drainage must follow, or the farmer will
find himself short when he comes to balance
his accounts.
would recommend careful attention 10
the supplying of plenty of plant food Tia
soil of mans farm serves the same pur
pose for him does his barn. one is q
storehouse for plant food AMI the other 4
storchouse for animal fool On this Coat4-
nent farmers have too much waste farm
room as well as too much waste barn room.
Water is the vehicle of nature b. which 5,
moves things about. Air is an abundant
source of plant food Plants X. from " to
9S per cent OF all their food t.1m IN, air
and still people persist in planting ~o cio-
~ together that plants ara deprived G.. a
good share of this necessary fool. D,i san
does all the work. lie is al -. tis"l
throwing bis RAYS down tlat ne may b, ui
service to mankind He tries TO g.t INFO
fat 4, t.,t
provide these four elements oil plant food.
soil, water, air and the sun, Will !ni OF
success. If a man does the "rao-r." We
on his farm nature will DO the WORK we'll
Animals are not after substance but ate
strength
The kinds of plant food that are becom-
ing scarce over this part of tn country are
nitrogen, phosphoric acid and potash. Ia
the droppinss OF animals all Of these ele-
ments are found IN every ton of horse
manure there are 20 pounds OF these el,-
ments SO that it il necessary to look after
the stables well.
The farmer should make use OF the plant
that will serve his particular purpo,t the
best. Sixteen tons of fodder corn can be
grown to the acre and this amount will last
a COW go days IT. can be grown for 81 -.
Every man can reduce the cost OF produc-
tion If he cannot regulate the price in the
market. Therein lies the profit. Butter
sells in Toronto to-day from 10 TO 80 cents.
Every Decent man can become a 80 cent
man in "a hours by sending to market the
3O-cent kind of butter. In growing corr
the one who grows it broadcast may get the
} largest crop, but not necessarily the crop
that is the best for the silo. There are three
conditions necessary for so-called sweet
ensilage; III the corn should be grown to