Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1893-08-17
STATE AGRICULTURAL
EXPERIMENT STATION,
1}lRIINGTON. Vt 1909 '

the year 1898. The financial report coy
ers the year ending June 80, 1892.
Publications.
During the year four bulletins have
been issued rs follows:
January-No. q, Tests of Dairy Ap,
paratus.
April-No. 2s. Plant Diseases.
1. Potato Blight and Rot.
2. A New Potato Disease. .;
3 Potato Scab. a
a. Apple and Pear Scab.
5. Oat Smut.
May-No. 30. Analyses of Licensed
Fertilizers.
June-No. so. The Results of the
Bounty on Maple Sugar.
Changes In station STAFF and Equipments.
Few changes have taken place in the
working force during the year. Mr.. c.
w. Minott resigned his position rs hor-
ticulturist of the station. Mr.. D. d.
Howe of Broolfeld, VT, has become the
farm superintendent and Mr.. f. II.
Powell the 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 itu-
dents of the dairy school.
Tho 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
underline headings Fertilizer Control. Pig
Feeding, Plant Diseases and Their Rene
dies and Dairying, in the broadest sense
of this latter term. The results obtained
in these several lines will be very briefly
sletched 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 that the
farmer has obtained plant food in the
fertilizers at about the same price as dur
ing the previous year. All of the fertili-
zers have been upto their guarantees.
A comparison has been instituted be-
tween the results Of the fertilizer inspec-
ton in Vermont for the years 1885 to
1893 inclusive. Some very interesting
facts are brought to light. The retail
price of fertilizers has dropped steadily
during these nine years from $500 in
1885 to $32.3 in 1898, or a fall of %5.5S.
AT the same time the composition of the
fertilizers has somewhat improved.
There was decided improvement dur
ing the years 1883 ana 1899, since which
there has been a falling off in quality,
but the average goods in 1893 are worth
about 81 30 ton more than the goods of
1850.
1t is evident then that the farmer at
the present time is getting more plant
food for his money than he was eight
years ago. A dollar in 1893 bought as
much plant food rs 1924 III 1885. On
the aggregate fertilizer business of the
state this amounts to a large sum. 1t
means that the farmers of this state are
saving $50 900 yearly from what the same
| fertilizers would have cost in 1885. Many
influences have combined reproduce this
result. and there is no doubt but that
| the work of the station in sampling,
analyZing and publishing the results
| broadcast over the state has been one of
these influences, and by no means the
! least.
Pig Feeding.
The work in pig feeding during the
| past year has been continuation of that
of previous years, the general idea being
to ascertain the best and most econom-
ical way Of using the sliimmilll from the
dairy for the production of pork. The
| experiments conducted seem to shaw
that the sour skimnilk produced Just as
| good results. pound for pound, as sweet
| skimmilk. Where there was any differ
cnce, it was in favor of sour skimmilk.
This corresponds with the results OBJ
tanned III a similar investigation a year
! ago and seems to indicate that the farm
| ers need not be afraid that they are los
| ing money every time the milk sours ON
| the way home from the creamery. and
! creamery men need not 80 to any ex-
| pense or trouble to so handle the skim
milk as to sterilizc it and keep it sweet.
Two ounces Of cormneal to each quart
of skimmlk has yielded the pound of
| pork at the least cost Of food. \ larger
| amount Of cornmeal has produced IL
more rapid growth, but at an increased
cost for food for each pound Of pork
above its market value.
During heavy feeding in preparation
for market, II quarts of skimmilk daily
to each pig, with all the cornmeal that
would be eaten, produced more rapid
growth and at less cost per pound than
six quarts OF milk under similar condi-
| tons.
a method of feeding during the earlier
months which tends to the Development
Of bone, muscle and digestive organs,
Father than the formation Of fat. pro-
| Tides foundation on which greater
| profit will be made when heavy feeding
begins in preparation for market. ANY
method of feeding which furnishes bulky
| food tends TO the larger growth of the
stomach and intestines, and ii larger per
cent in shrinkage in dressing, Watery
| food has the same influence.
The eight pigs in these tests increased