The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1911-05-01
BETTER FARMING" SPECIAL.
What the Present Movement Has Ac-
complished in Vermont.

tVuPhSneu III FSihVHN'
The better farming special train
which began its tour OF the Contra
Vermont system on Tuesday at Wind
sor demonstrated the need and i'm
portance of such an enterprise, l., in
deed, any demonstration were neces'
sary after the success Of similar
tour on the Rutland railroad last year
The tour this year starts off ever
more successfully than that Of 1916
with better and more complete eX.
hibit, bigger crowds, and greater in
terest.
There is novelty about such q train
that draws more people than the old
fashioned farmers institute, and the
large and varied exhibits, the demon
STATIONS and lectures make this
method more helpful and more enjoy
able than the ordinary meeting held
in hall.
II is really remarkable that SO
much Of practical value may be seen
and heard in an hours time. Exhibits
of high and low grade cows, blooded
poultry with eggs that sell for a dol
lar apiece, proper rations for cattle
and horsts, nutritiv and economical
feed, good and poor fertilizers and
how to save money on their purchase,
insect pests and how TO fight them and
the fungus diseases, good and poor
seed, the benefits Of forestry and do
nestle science are some of the things
that attracted the attention of the
crowds Of visitors. Many farmers and
their wives drove for miles over roads
which at this season of the year are
not of the best, TO visit this train and
their interest, shown by their attitude
and their conversation is a very hope
full sign The same may be said of
the attendance Of the school children.
Little by little the seed sown is spring
ing up and beginning to bear fruit. A
few years ago it would have been diff
flcult to secure such a train for them
to attend Scientific agriculture is
winning its way, slowly but surely
When "book farming" raises larger
crops that bring more money than can
be secured under the old methods there
is much less disposition to sheer at
it.
Why should railroad furnish a
special train for week, with its crew,
accompanied by officers of the road
in order that farmers meetings may
be held in various parts OF the state
1t is because the railroad officials are
sagacious enough to perceive that the
upbuilding Of Vermont agriculture, the
increasing of the crops of farmers
along the line Of railway means ulti-
mately more prosperous state, which
means more freight and more passen-
gers for the railroad to carry.
The state, through its agricultural
college and its department of agrieul.
ture, headed by such progressive men
as Pro J l. Hills and Hon. o. L.
Martin, sanctions and directs this
planting of ideas in the expectation
of reaping a profitable harvest The
men and women assembled for the work
are experts and there can be no doubt
that next fall the Vermont crops will
be better because of this trip Of the
better farming special More than that
farming in this region viii be con-
Quoted more intelligently for many
years because this work has been done.
1t viii be profitable thing for the
state, and 5fnr the railroads Of the
state, If this farming special is made
an annual feature at the opening Of
each agricultural season in Vermont.