Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-07-25

Fstohsrs Concrete Policies Look TO Material Progress.
The policies which Fletcher proposes
out when he elected Of Vermont not gtteng
generatles yet they theories OF an mpracucaDe
nature that merely look good paper.
The list includes such practical and desirable propositions
the scientific and mehodca development of water in
different sections of Vermont not for the profit Of outsiders
but for the benefit of peoples the development of
forestry whereby hills that have become
be made to again become Of well
of moisture for the feeding Of the
motion of Green Mountain regions attractions perma
nent residents well capital the
adoption Of system of taxation that shall the de-
veopment Of natural resources particularly SOIL
and thus the and daughters Of farmers to
stay IN the old State cooperation between the States agrcu
ura department the State Universitys Agricultural Col
ege so that may have greater from farms
We desire this morning speak in particular Of the
sbites wrapped up this single proposition promote the
productveness of veronts SOIL and to emphasize
ability of thorough cooperation for purpose Of bringing
ABOUT TINS very important contamination
ure has Just sent valuable and interesting letter to Congress-
Hill of Connecticut has republican
venton Burlington good advantage emphasizing the fact
that through of education the people of the State
rapidly increase the percentage of the production of food they
consume and eventually produce nearly all of it.
This does not mean that must establish primary agricu
agricultural high schools and colleges but that
may show farmers Of the generation how to
largely increase the produveness Of their soil and thus enable
them greatly increase their income from their farms
This was of the propositions male by Mr. Fletcher in
certain to be carried through the cooperation M
State and federal authorities working through agricultural
department experiment station and State College of
Agriculture
Everybody will admit that this contamination is greatly
to be desired The practical question be answered is is
sble Secretary Wilson soil of Vermont and
other New England States does yield nearly the amount
of food forage capable producing under proper
cultivation In other words he demonstrates that this increased
productivity possible and he also further and that
owing the increased living exhaustion of til
age and the multiplication of people will become
economic necessity for the farmers Of this and other regions
to augment the productivity of the soil.
appears that whereas population of the United States
increased during the decade q cent the total de-
voted to agriculture increased only 40 cent and the
ductivity increased only 16 Figures
however to demonstrate the absolute necessity Of increased
productivity nothing the profitable nature of the
sion.
That it is possible to accomplish this is shown by secre
Wilson's letter dealing with what has been done in the
South by the department of agriculture The department
called upon the best practical farmers in that region
operate with in sherng agriculture for the South
About agents engaged all in insrucng the
less thrifty and intelligent and the boys enlisted in the
Prizes yield of different crops offered and
the country has astonshed the result The South raised
year any previous year
it's history, AMI 200 bushels of the has been
produced result of this educational movement.
old saying that "What has done do "
What has been accomplished in the South be accomplished
in Vermont in various directions What we need is man at
head of government who will lead off in this
and in motion the machinery the brains and the
the cooperation of the essential forces
action and success.
Secretary Wilson shows by his letter that he appreciates
the fact that New England needs help along these lines He
emphasizes frequently enforced and that
Mr. Fletcher with the cooperation of President Benton of the
State University will try to meet namely that the Agricultural
College be carried to our farms
In short the proposition is make the field Of the farmer
who needs object lesson the class Secretary Wilson
government should bear part
expense furnishing object lesson for the farmers of this
region the other sections of the country and under
these ought be difficult for
coming Legislature cooperate with executive in nst
tuting this work.
Our Agricultural College has already undertaken extern
work but has been hampered by lack Of facilities and
funds With the State and federal authorities uniting to pro
development Of the productivity of the soil in New
England. will speedily open to farmers.
In this connection should be borne in mind that Yer
well New England in general offers great induce
the prospective farmer The farming lands of the
valuable that the tide of immigration
turning again the East, and the next will
marked appreciation in the value of farms particularly
the agriculture movement sweeps this region.
Mr. Fletcher became interested in this long be-
secretary of agriculture sought interest New Eng
land and believe the will marked i'm
petls impaired to Vermonts material development.