Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1911-10-26
Mr.. VAIL ON new ENGLAND COMPETITION WITH WEST

Theodore ~ Vail and efficient farmer well
as president of the American Telephone and Telegraph
of the Western Union Telegraph and connected
with various other great business organizations sounded the
of New England when he stated in the
interview, printed columns that tins region can
compete with the West in agriculture now that the Western
ranches have been small farms and the necessity of
fertilization has arisen in that section.
That utcrnce up the law and the profits Of farming
of the soil himself unable hold his in competition
with the and fertile West The farmer of the new colorado
had simply the rrow cultivate surface and
his to secure an abundant harvest possession
thousands of acres enabled him cut wide SWa so to speak
the first demonstrate the of the principle that
small profits large business has limit this side of
what has come to be known the trust.
While Mr. Vail is farmer a large scale, he has demon
strated the possibility of raising products that will make the
small farm profitable. Great the credit due Mr. Vail Tor
establishing splendid agricultural school for the young farm
ers OF Vermont his paramount service is the encouragement he
ton with diversified farming He would raise cattle
would breed kinds of stock and crops be
ready for varying and markets lie would have our
farmers produce more Of their nccessarcs instead OF buy
ing so much from the West
That is fundamental truth in connection with agriculture
There are few things which the farmer cannot afford to pro-
duce for himself but the number is far smaller than host
of people suppose present time judging from
the way which they depend other sections for various
meat products and all kinds of canned goods including fruits
and vegetables Our farmers by organizing develop fac
tories that will take of many of their products and thus
profitable kind of markets at their very door
Success in all these directions has been secured isolated
instances in Vermont but rule of people too
inclined jog along in the good old way of the fathers
which, while good not progressive and profitable the
present method of intensive farming
has been repeatedly demonstrated that twenty-five
thoroughly titled and devoted right kind of products
be made profitable than hundred devoted large
~ hay and pasurenl The old way the
most successful farmers of the day and the application of
enfc but thoroughly practical knowledge farming has
abcd two well blades of TO where
fourhcd before
Now let us get right at the of the trouble with the
farmer of Vermont who fails make his farm
profitable as he should.
There is tilcr of soil in read
time and again of the which others splendid
bIt he long he uOtS TO
consider that he himself leaf. He is in
clned to that his take advantage Of the modern
methods of farming but that difficult teach a old
has to him in the past
Too many farmers of Vermont have concluded that what
President Benton Of the State university and State agricultural
college had about mrovcd methods of farming in Yer
mont had significance for them in general but applied
clusvey the young President Benton said that if
placed the hands Of the agricultural college, could
be extended all the bat he manifSty did
have time to into particulars
Now matter of fact the well supported state college
Of agriculture only teaches the farmer and the older
farmer through dairy schools and agricultural Institutes and
but it actually tells the farmer. mar what his
how he can make his particular class of farms protohI'
Correspondence schools of the prominent fea
of the agricultural colleges that have the at
their command and be sincerely hoped that the Vermont
Legislature may take prompt steps put Yer
in the vanguard of progress this particular in order
that all our farmers into the prosperity which should
be theirs.
AS been we'll said. this extension the part
of State agricultural colleges throughout the country
of the commendabc tendencies of the present time con
certed Of this character conducted under the
auspices of the State university would afford town in
instructions the state department Of agriculture Just as
every profits by the State laboratory Of hygiene"
The returns to the farmers OF Vermont would repay the outlay
involved enfold.
These are only the ways in which the agricultural
of Vermont may be helped to take hold of Mr. Vail
of truth which has much for the encouragement ~
O England. those