Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-02-22
EAST Can LEARN FROM WEST
Lessons Drawn by Prof. Edison Of
the Department of Agriculture.
Addresses and Demonstrations Mark
the Third Dny Of Farmers Week
At the University Of Vermont
Good Audiences Present.

| Wednesday and Thursday are the buster
days Of the Farmers week. Two addresses
we're going on simultaneously during the
morning yesterday, while in the after
noon demonstrations of stock Judging
cows and horses--were given, as we'll as
minor demonstrations Of sundry matters
connected with dairy and creamery work.
| The entire evening was given over to
the meeting OF the Vermont Forestry as
ISOLATION elsewhere reported
Good audiences were present at all the
sessions. and much interest manifested.
Briefs of some Of the addresses fol-
| low:
WEEDS.
| O3y Prof G.. p. Burns)
1t is very important in this age #
intensive agriculture that all unnecessary
sources of loss be eliminated. One Of
| the chief sources at present in Vermont
is the loss due to the presence of weeds
! in our fields. both cultivated and pasttred.
! This loss averages each year more than
the taxes paid for all purposes In many
| cases 1t goes much higher. Who does
| not welcome a reduction OF taxes, Vet
We are not fighting our weeds which cost
us so much.
Vermont is behind the leaders In this
respect. She has no law protecting the
farmers from impure seed These are
each year sown in grass and other crops
and scattered in the manure from the COW
barns A single example OF each should
| be given.
In a sample Of clover seed sent to the
far = ind
OF weed seeds were found These included
kale, three kinds of dock. witch or quack
/ grass. ragweed. etc. In one pound of this
seed there were fifty thousand weed
| seeds.
In a sample If cattle feed which sold
at sos per ton, there were in each pound
one hundred seventy-two thousand nine
| hundred ninety weed seeds OF these
| fifteen per cent. We're able to grow after
| passing through the COW. one COW fed
on this food for six months would return
| to the land seven million seeds capable
of producing a new plant. Many other
| examples could ne given How long are
| we going to he content to he without the
protection of an inspection of the seed
| and feeds offered 70, sale in Vermont?
| The hes, method for destroying weeds
cases it is profitable to use sprays The
| best general spray is solution of iron
| sulphate This Is made up of one
| hundred pounds of iron sulphate in fifty
gallons of water. This is enough to spray
| one acre. Try it on your kale with an
| ordinary spray pump. II will kill the kale
| and will not injure the oats. 1t should he
! applied just before the kale comes into
| blossom.
| The expense of the operation Will he
| more than offset by the Increased yield
LESSONS FROM WESTERN AGRI
CULTURE TO EASTERN FARMERS.
(By Prof. H. A. Edison. L, S. Depart
ment of Agriculture)
one of the most striking contrasts
which attracts the attention of the
New Highlander on his first visit to
| the Far West is the difference in the
mental attitude Of the people 1t has
become a habit with the Western men
to make the most of their new sur
roundings. and many of their successes
are the direct result OF the energy
and courage fostered by this attitude.
Eastern men transferred West find
| themselves facing new problems and
difficulties. often greater than those
of the East. Partial or complete fail
ure Is the usual result Of their first
ventures. but the rebound with which
they recover fer a new attempt is a
constant inspiration to themselves and
their community. Failure is word
unknown to their vocabulary. Tenn
porary reVerses only teach them how
to avoid mistakes. but do not dssuade
them from their purpose. The truth
of the matter is that the great West
Is not altogether the utopian land we
are wont to believe. It's agricultural
and its economic problems are many
and serious. They are new, and OK
perience gained in the East frequent
| ly does not apply to their solution.
Climatic conditions combine with a re-
fractory soil to render returns uncer
tain. and. when crops have been album
dant the distances from markets and
the cost of transportation place the
Western producer at serious disad
vantage in competition with his fell
lows located nearer the great markets
Of the East,
These facts are mentioned, not to
disparage the West. but to emphasize
gift OF willing soil and kindly eli
mate. but the natural fruit of the
courage and determination Of its peo-
pie. They make the most Of what
they have, and stand together for the
promotion of their industries.
The enterprise which has been
necessary to develop the orchard in
forests of the West. If applied in the
East would here develop a still great
or and more prosperous industry At
nigh attitudes. where late spring
frosts annually ondangcr the crop.
the growers have an effective organi-
cation which can he called into action
in ten or fifteen minutes, like a fire
department. and which actually sue
ceeds In raising the temperature over
several miles of territory, preventing
The destruction of fruit in the bud
worm thousands upon thousands of
dollars They have organized fruit
growers associations TO gather and
rack their fruit and have taught the
purchasing public to know that West
erh iruit Is never deaconed but is al
ways uniform and true to brand. Thus
'hey are able to secure an advantage
over the East in all markets even
'hough the havor Of their fruit Is by
no means equal to that produced I'm
our own orchards
The western farmer talks his bust.
ness he talks about his ADVANTAGES
and his opportunities, until he comes
To believe In himself and hts sur