Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1911-03-23
VERMONT DAIUyING,
tFrom the Montpelier journal.

(ErOm the montpelier JOurnalD
Commissioner of Agriculture O J.. Mar
ton contributes to the current Vcrmonter
such an article on vermont Dairy Pros
pects' that the journal takes pleasure in
reproducing IT herewith:
Someone has said "A wise man will
make more opportunities than he finds.
The opportunities for dairying in Vermont
exist in full measure and thrust them
selves upon us. A study Of the last cen
sus is significant. We have over $1,000
farms and they show all appreciation In
value of $500 per acre over 1900 in farm
lands alone or $500 per acre on land with
buildings
why should not Our farm lands APP
precate in value when It is a fact that
Vermont shows an average value per
acre for corn, oats and wheat during the
past ten years of more than twice that
OF Kansas. Nebraska, Missouri. Okla
bona, North Dakota, and South Dakota,
nearly twice that of Minnesota, Iowa and
Indiana and an average Of $20SS COM
pared with s1i.G for Ohio Ohio and In
diana show slight increase over the
yield of corn per acre III Vermont, but
the value per acre In Vermont far exceeds
that of any other State mentioned. 1t al
SO exceeds in bushels of oats per acre
any of the other States mentioned
at the recent New England corn OK
position it was determined by the Bowker
contest for largest yield per acre Of 1nois-
ture free corn that flint corn produced
more value per acre. Now what has all
this to do with dairying in Vermont?
Heretofore the great drawback Of the
prosperity Of the dairy farmer has been
lis inclination to buy his feed OF the NO
cesslty to do so, but the advent Of i'm
proved machinery, a higher wage paid
farm labor and a growing tendency tow
ard the farm has rendered it possible to
grow our own grain crops in cGmpoN-
ton with states whose farm lands are
selling at three or four times the price
OF Vermont lands.
I'VE are comparatively near tho great
markets Of New ENGLAND and local con-
sumption is fast becoming a factor i'm
the trade so it cannot be expected that
prices will fall materially for several
years to come
There f. also a growing demand for
milk and cream which tends to keep pro-
duction of butter down and the price up,
and it seems to me that the one thing
farmer is to increase the number OF dairy
cows in the state
short hay crops and the constant sell
ing of milk in some sections Of the State
have depleted the herds of dalr- cows 20
the extent that the price of good cow. is
approaching a prohibtive figure. and This
practice is sure to also deplete the fertN-
ity Of the soil and leave poor heritage
to keep on the farm.
Interesting ourselves in the betterinI
Of conditions is good for Us and the
world at large. Producers must bear in
n ind that profits arc not the only thing
to be considered. The question If pro-
ducing SAINT ry products IS claiming the
attention Of our good farmers equally as
it does the city merchant who handles
hsi product and that all dairy products
shall be produced as nearly sanitary as
may be. our recent Legislature passed
an inspection law that I trust will ult-
mately lead TO that end ana with which
l hope all Interested in the subject viii
ocquaint themselves.
Il believe tho condition of our herds
Is generally healthful. our laws regard
ing tuberculosis are good and efficiently
| enforced and it seems that we may i'm
the near future be free from this trouble
which would add a prestige to Vermont
dairy products enjoyed by no ether New
England States.
1T Is said that some creamery aseocia-
tons pay an extra price for milk or cream
from tested herds and this ii seems 10 me
would be an excellent method II improv-
ing our herds and the same would add
q market to Our product.
II believe that dairying has never offer
cd brighter prospects than at present for
one who is willing TO put study and worl;
Into it, The price OF farms is bound TO
advance and a young man who has bust
ness ability need have no n;isgivings
! toward acquiring farm and doyo,ins
himself to dairying In Vermont"
Mr.. Martin practices what he breaches
AT tho present time ho is much Interested
! in aiding in the formation of COW test
| ing associations, one Of the best posi-
bic methods OF improving the condition
| Of Vermont dalrymen. There arc to-day.
! in vermont dairies thousands Of COWS
that do not pay their board. They cost
as much to feed and house as the best
! quality of dairy animal. II the farmers
Of this State could substitute profitable
for Improbable COWS the value ot our
! dairy products would be very largely in
| crea sed.
Another strong point made by Mr. Mar
| TN is the Importance of raising more corn.
! Government figures have demonstrated
| that in the number Of bushels Of corn per
! acre Vermont stands near the head OF
| the list. II we can raise moro oS our own
feed we save the payment OF a heavy
toll to the West, may keep moro COWS
: nd thus increase the fertility Of our
farms,
| 1t is true that the future foc duirying
| in Vermont never was brighter. and chat
| the price ot farms IS bound 70 ,,dv,-uce.
Already Vermont butter enjoys an oavI-
able reputation, We do nor neod 10 hUtid
NJ good name for oar dairy rroduo -.
for that Is ours already, TAkiLE a0yNn-
tage Of thls fact 1t uuSAt To D. possible
TO maintain and even improve tpon thc
present standard and largely incense ,Dr
| output.
TRAVELS THROUGH DIBLt. Ian ID.
CRWh lrNan Owens in National Monthly
ut IS the land Of the Bedouus. We
We're informed, "rhesc bare Judean hils