Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1913-02-27
AGRICULTURE AS A. BUSINESS.


Tho opera house was filled this even
ing, fully two-thirds of the audience peing
women President Thomas presided |
George NJ. Rommel, chief OF the bureau
of animal industry, United states depart
mcnt Of agriculture, spoke upon 'Agr-
culture as a Profession and rs n Busi-
ness" Dr. Charles II. Bangworthy Il
native OF Middlebury, an alumnus OF the
college and since 1926 connected with the
bureau of chemistry of the department
Of agriculture at Washington, was the
second speaker. His address was on
Work of the United States Department
Of Agriculture for Housekeepers." Ills ad-
dress was illustrated with stereopticon
pictures. Mr.. Rommell said in part:
"The encouragement and advancement
OF agriculture and the study of agrl-
cultural science by the use of public funds
has become a settled public policy in the
United States heartily approved by the
! farming classes.
| "Thls has developed a class of profess
sional men in our country who make the
study Of agricultural conditions, agricul-
tural science and farm practice their life
work
"Thc actual farmer should make him
self as much a professional man as pos
sble by Keeping in close touch with the
work done by professional men working
in public institutions.
! Farming is business occupation, re
curing all the knowledge of the science
OF agriculture which the farmer can learn
and demanding all the executive ability
with which God Almighty endowed him
Tho Improvement Of business methods or
farming is tho greatest agricultural nee
ossty in The United States to-day
"The output of agricultural produce
in the United states must increase to
keep pace with the increase Of popu-
lation
Responsive methods Of marketing
have an important bearing on the
much discussed high cost of living
The farmer can assist materially in the
solution of this problem by adopting
more direct methods of selling, eithe,
by cooperation or by selling direct t.
p the consumer, The parcels post viii
probably he of immense value to the
farmer in this respect.
. DIRECT METHODS or SELLING.
/ Direct methods Of selling will no
s only enable the cost to the consume
e. to be lcssened. They will also enable
o. the farmer to obtain more for hi
. produce by saving much Of the cost o
S unnecessary handling and profit
i which are a feature of the present ex
S travagant system of distribution.
" Improvement in the quality an
II appearance of agricultural produce /
profitable ana deserves more attention
by farmers than 1t now receives
Farmers can materially reduce tn
10 cost of production of their produce b
II more efficient methods of using labor
l. work animals and more careful atten
e tiou to executive details Simple ac
1t counts should be kept on every farm
y The farmer should remember that hi
n own time is the most expensive indi
1t vidual feature in the cost of what h
produces.
10 agricultural colleges. which ar
lie agricultural colleges in fact as we
= as in name. are sending their stu
n dents back to the farm because the
Ia are teaching them not only tho prir
- ciplcs of agricultural science but no
Oh to make the home farm pay.
ne a most vital factor in our nation;
- well being is the maintenance of
II virile, successful, contented farmin
Is population. Such a farming populf
~ ton cannot exist unless the farms al
10 principally owned by those who ope
Is ate them, and the operators will NJ
ne own the farms unless farming pays
Make Il your business to find and al
Is swer the want ad that points straight
at a personal opportunity for you