The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1893-08-23

The present report covers the work of
the station from Jan. 1 to Dec. 81. 1892
though part of the work in the test of
corn fodder and ensilage extended into
the year 1893. The financial report COW
ers the year ending June 80, 1892.
Publications.
During the year four bulletins have
been issued as follows:
January--No. %. Tests of Dairy APP
paratus.
April-No. %, Plant Diseases.
/. Potato Blight and Rot.
=. A New Potato Disease.
3. Potato ~cab.
a. Apple and Pear Scab.
5. Dat Srlut
May--No, 30. Analyses of Licensed
Fertilizers.
June--No. 30. The Results of the
Bounty ON Maple Sugar.
Changes In station STAFF and Equipment.
Few changes have taken place in the
working force during the year. Mr.. G..
w. Minott resigned his position as hor-
ticulturist of the station. Mr. d. d.
Howe of Broollfield, VT, has become the
farm superintendent and Mr.. e. H.
Powell the treasurer of the station.
During 1892 the equipment of the station
was increased by the addition of 30 acres
to the farm for a 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
sketched i'll 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 up to their guarantees
a comparison has been instituted be-
tween the results of the fertilizer inspec-
ton in Vermont for the years 1885 to
1898 inclusive. Some very interesting
facts are brought to light. The retail
price of fertilizers has dropped steadily
during these nine years from 1919 in
1880 to S32.3 2 in 1898, or fall of $5.5S.
At the same time the composition of the
fertilizers has somewhat improved.
There was a decided improvement dur
ing the years 1888 and 1899, since which
there has been falling off in quality,
but the average goods in 1898 are worth
about 80 q ton more than the goods of
1855.
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 as $1.24 in 1885. On
the aggregate fertilizer business of the
state this amounts to 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 toproduce this
result, and there is no doubt but that
the work Of the station III 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 u continuation of that
of previous years, the general idea being
to ascertain the best and most econom-
i,..1 &c +l,o
dairy for the production of pork. The
experiments conducted seem to show
that the sour skimmilk produced just as
good results, pound for pound, as sweet
sSimmilk. Where there was any differ
ence, it was III favor of sour skimmilk.
This corresponds with the results OBJ
tanned i'll 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 go to any eX-
pense or trouble to so handle the skim
milk as to sterilize it and keep it sweet.
Two ounces of cornmeal to each quart
of skimmilk has yielded the pound of
pork at the least cost of food. A larger
amount of cornmeal has produced a
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 skimmillz daily
to each pig, with all the cornmeal that
would be eaten, produced more rapid
growth and at less cost per pound than
nix quarts Of milk under similar condi-
lions.
A method of feeding during the earlier
months which tends to the development
bf bone, muscle and digestive organs.
rather than the formation of fat, pro-
gides 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 Il larger per
cent IN shrinkage in dressing. Watery
food has the same influence.
The eight pigs in these tests increased
IN live WEIGHT I 012 Mounds which sold