Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1893-08-25
STATE AGRICULTURAL
EXPERIMENT STATION,
BURLINGTON, Vt, 1898.

paratus.
April-No. -. Plant Diseases.
/. Potato Blight and Rot.
2. A New Potato Disease.
g. Potato Scab.
T. Apple and Pear Scab.
8. Dat Smut.
May-No. 80. Analyses Of Licensed
Fertilizers.
June-No. 80. The Results of the
Bounty on Maple Sugar.
Changes In station STAFF and Equipment.
Few changes have taken place III the
working force during the year. Mr.. G.
W. Minott resigned his position as hor-
ticulturist of the station. Mr., ID. D.
Howe of Brookfeld. VT, has become the
farm superintendent and Mr.. f. II.
Powell tho treasurer Of the station.
During 1892 the equipment of the station
was increased by the addition of 80 acres
to the farm for pasture. 1t also be
came necessary to build an addition to
the creamery to accommodate the stu
dents of the dairy school.
The Work of the Year.
There has been no notable change in
the character of the work the past year
from that of previous years. Most of
the lines Of investigation can be grouped
under the headings Fertilizer Control, Pig
Feeding, Plant Diseases and Their Rene
dies and Dairying In the broadcast sense
| Of this latter term. The results obtained
in these several lines will be very briefly
skctched in the following report:
Fertilizer Control.
As required by law, this station has
made analyses during the year Of the
various brands licensed for sale In this
state. The results have shown TINT the
farmer has obtained plant food in the
fertilizers Mt about the same price Us dur
ing the previous year. All OF the fertili'
zers have been up ITO their guarantees.
A comparison has been instituted be
tween the results Of the fertilizer inspcC
ton in Vermont for the years 1885 tC
1893 inclusive. Some very interesting
facts arc brought to light. The retail
price of fertilizers has dropped steadily
during these nine years from S37 90 in
1885 to $32 81 in 1909, or fall Of $j.5s
1T the same time the composition of the
fertilizers has somewhat improved
There was decided improvement dur
ing the years 1888 and 1880, since which
there has been falling off in quality
but the average goods in 1903 are wortl
about ST. 80 ton more than the goods o.
1885.
1t Is evident then that the farmer a
the present time is getting more plan
food for his money than he was eiKh
years ago. y dollsr in 1893 bought a
much plant food as $l.24 in 1885. Oi
{ the aggregate fertilizer business Of tn,
state this amounts to large sum. !
means that the farmers of this state ar,
saving $50 900 yearly from what the SAM
fertilizers would have cost in 1885. Man,
influences have combined reproduce thi
result, and there is no doubt but tina
: the work Of the station III sampling
t analysing and publishing the result
! broadcast over the state has been one o
these influences, and by no means tn
least.
Pig Feeding.
The work in pig feeding during til
past year has been continuation Of tina
Of previous years, the general idea bein
> to ascertain the best and most econom
ical way of using the skimmilk from tn
: dairy for the production of pork. TIL
: experiments conducted seem to shoy
n that the sour skimmilk produced just a
!. good results, pound for pound, as swee
:, skimmilk Where there was any differ
- ence, 1t was In favor Of sour skimmilb
This corresponds with the results oil
tanned In "a similar investigation yea
: ago and seems to indicate that the farm
S ers need not be afraid that they are loi
II ing money every time the milk sours o
II the way home from the creamery, an
[ creamery men need not go to any e,
>, pense OF trouble to 30 handle the skin
milk as to sterilize it and keep it sweet.
Two ounces Of cornmesl to each quar-
IT Of skimmilk has yielded the pound c
a pork at the least cost Of food. A large
amount Of cornmeal has produced
more rapid growth, but at an increase
cost for food for each pound Of por
II above It's market value.
= During heavy feeding in preparatio
l, for market, 12 quarts of skimmilk dali
4 to each pig, with all the cornmeal tha
4 would be eaten. produced a morefapi
= growth and at less cost per pound tina
six quarts Of milk under similar cond
tons.
y A method of feeding during the earlit
II months which tends to the developmer
A. Of bone, muscle and digestive organ
IS rather than the formation Of fat, pr,
lie vides foundation ON which great,
6 profit will be made when heavy feedin
r. begins In preparation for market. An
-, r method Of feeding which furnishes bull.
- food tends to the larger growth Of IL
IL stomach and intestines, and larger p1
cent In shrinkage In dressing. Water
food has the same influence.
-, The eight pigs In these tests increase
In live weight 1913 pounds, which sol
- for S112.91, while the food they ate CO
ne $1s.8S, q profit Of $50 %. The grain the
al ate cost ~, which subtracted fire.
H. the amount for which they sold leav,
ID $8s.70 as the amount realized for the 1.
Ds Tie pounds Of skimmilk they ate, whic
or y equivalent to 85 cents per 100 pound
: The fertilizing value Of the food w
tss,0e, or 81 per cent Of Its market valu
Owing to the high price Of pork at Il
time they were marketed, they cou
-. have been proAtably fed TO a great
=. weight than in our previous experiment